Richmond Hands VCU 4-1 Defeat in Regular Season Finale at Crenshaw Field
The VCU Rams dropped their regular season finale to the University of Richmond by a 4-1 scoreline Friday evening at Crenshaw Field, stumbling into the postseason with their third consecutive loss.
Richmond closed out the 2026 regular season with an 11-6 overall record and a 5-1 mark against Atlantic 10 opponents, securing the No. 2 seed in the upcoming conference tournament. VCU finished the regular season at 8-9 overall and earned the No. 3 seed.
The visiting Spiders set an aggressive tone early, keeping the pressure on the Rams from the opening whistle. VCU deflected an initial shot out of bounds, and goalkeeper Emma Clements kept Richmond off the scoreboard in the early going with a diving save during back-and-forth possession.
The pressure mounted in the second quarter as Richmond earned multiple penalty corners within the opening minutes. VCU fended off several attempts, but the defense finally yielded with 7:25 remaining in the first half when the Spiders capitalized on a rebound off a penalty corner. Clements made multiple subsequent saves and blocks to keep the deficit at 1-0 heading into halftime. Statistically, the opening half belonged entirely to the visitors, with Richmond outshooting VCU 13-0 and holding a 6-0 advantage in penalty corners.
Second-Half Scoring Outburst Secures Spiders’ Victory
The third quarter brought more defensive stands from VCU, which successfully warded off three consecutive penalty corners before Richmond picked up a yellow card. VCU earned a couple of corners of their own shortly after but failed to convert. With under two minutes remaining in the third period, Richmond broke through again off another corner to extend the lead to 2-0.
Final Richmond 4, VCU 1 We'll be back to play in the A10 Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 5 at Cary Street Field.
The fourth quarter sparked an immediate offensive flurry. Hannah Zimmerman found room to run down the right sideline and passed to Mackenzie White, who scored VCU’s first goal of the game. That breakthrough lasted mere moments. Richmond answered almost immediately by earning a penalty stroke to make it 3-1, then struck again less than a minute later to push the lead to 4-1.
| Team | Shots | Penalty Corners | Final Record | A10 Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Richmond | 23 | 11 | 11-6 | 5-1 |
| VCU Rams | 6 | 2 | 8-9 | Not Reported |
Richmond finished the match outshooting VCU 23-6 while holding an 11-2 edge in penalty corners. Individual statistics highlighted the Spiders’ offensive output, led nationally by Clara Larripa, who added her 25th goal of the season via a penalty stroke in the 52nd minute. Due to an injury in the third quarter, the team was unavailable for comment after the game.
Rematch Looming in Atlantic 10 Tournament Semifinals
The crosstown rivals will not have to wait long to settle the score. Because of their respective regular-season finishes, the No. 2-seeded Spiders and No. 3-seeded Rams will square off in the second semifinal contest of the 2026 Betterment Field Hockey Tournament. The match is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5, with VCU hosting the postseason event at Cary Street Field.
