Oct. 24, 2008

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PHILADELPHIA, PA –­­­ Kara Harpel launched a blast from 13 feet to beat Richmond keeper Becca Weaver with nine minutes and 59 seconds to play but it only cut the Spider lead to two goals in a 4-1 Richmond win on Friday afternoon at Hank DeVincent Field.

The goal was the fourth of the season for the Explorer junior but by that point Richmond’s Megan Thompson had already scored two goals and assisted on a third to give the visitors a 3-0 edge in the Atlantic 10 match-up.

Thompson scored the first goal after receiving a long drive from Sarah Blythe-Wood along the bench sideline which put her on the break with only keeper Emma Ruth to beat.  After a deek to the left Ruth committed and Thompson banged home the score 26 minutes and 36 seconds into the game.

Thompson’s second goal was also assisted by Blythe-Wood when she redirected a centering pass past Ruth 12 minutes and 20 seconds into the second half.

Dani Pycroft deflected a cross from Thompson to run the score to 3-0 with 17:28 to play to give Thompson seven points on the day.

After Harpel’s goal, Richmond found itself with a penalty corner and no time remaining on the clock. Hannah Hess settled the push from Natalie Simons who started the corner and blazed a shot rattled the back of the cage despite Ruth putting her left pad on it to end the game.

Before the game Explorer seniors Maria Allegretto, Jess Menge, Whitney Madron and Christy Miller were honored on the final home appearance of their careers.    All four were in the starting line-up.

The Explorers will visit Saint Louis to continue Atlantic 10 play Sunday afternoon.