PHILADELPHIA – The No. 17 ranked Spiders used a fast start in the first half to withstand an Explorer rally in the second half to take down La Salle 14-8 in both team's Atlantic 10 conference opener on Friday afternoon.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Spiders (7-2, 1-0 A-10) came out firing in the first period, scoring the first four goals of the game over the opening 5:17 of the game to take a 4-0 lead.
• Claudia Steinmetz halted the Spider run with a goal at 1:06 mark of the first with her seventh goal of the season.
• Richmond scored the next five goals of the first half to take a 9-1 lead into the half.
• After Nicole Concannon scored to begin the second half for Richmond, Katie Johnson tallied her first career goal for La Salle (2-7, 0-1 A-10).
• An A-10 Preseason All-Conference selection for the Spiders, Arden Tierney scored the next two goals to extend the Richmond lead to 12-2.
• From there, the Explorer offense took control of the game, scoring six of the final eight goals. Johnston and Maddie Henderson each scored during the stretch for La Salle, while Kiki Venza and Steinmetz added the others during the Explorer surge that brought the game to 13-8 with 4:51 to play.
• Lauren Kingsbury finally stopped the La Salle run with 1:19 remaining to bring the final tally to 14-8.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Richmond held wide margins in shots (40-20) and shots on goal (27-17).
• The Spiders also led in draw controls with 17 to La Salle's nine, including an 11-1 edge in the first half.
• Sophia Dicensco and Tierney tied for the Richmond lead in points with four apiece. DiCenso scored four goals on seven shots, while Tierney added two goals and two assists.
• Emily Johnston extended her team-high total in points with two goals and an assist on Friday to lead the Explorers.
• Steinmetz added four draw controls to go along with her two goal day, while Jess Hewitt led La Salle with two ground balls.
• Goalkeeper Julia Dellaratta started the first half for La Salle, making six saves while conceding nine goals. Kelli McGroarty took over in the second half, making seven stops while allowing five goals.
• In goal for Richmond, Delaney Galvin made nine saves to pick up her seventh win of the season for the Spiders.

 
UP NEXT:
The Explorers will continue conference play at home on Sunday, March 27 when they take on VCU at 12 p.m.