Six for Six: Saint Joseph’s Survive an Eight-Round Shootout to Win Another Atlantic 10 Title
Eight rounds. That’s how long it took Saint Joseph’s to make it six in a row.
The Hawks beat Richmond 2-1 in a shootout at VCU’s Cary Street Field on Saturday, after the Atlantic 10 final finished 1-1. Richmond led early through Maia Dechiario’s penalty corner in the sixth minute, and Saint Joseph’s levelled when Erika Culp pounced on the rebound from Milou Kluyt’s saved penalty corner.
Then came the shootout, and it went the distance. Saint Joseph’s led 2-0 after Alison Buffington and Lily DeWan converted. Richmond dragged it back. Clara Larripa had a chance to win it for Richmond in round six, and goalkeeper Avianna Wagner stopped her. Culp scored in round eight, and Wagner saved Maura Seeger’s retaken attempt to seal it. Wagner finished with six saves and the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award. Richmond’s Mairead Carey made seven.
The numbers tell the story of a game Saint Joseph’s mostly controlled: 17 shots to Richmond’s nine. But finals don’t care about shot counts, and Richmond made them earn every inch of this one.
Six straight Atlantic 10 titles ties the conference record. Nine of the last ten, too. That’s not a good run. That’s a dynasty, and nobody in the league has found an answer to it yet.
The win takes Saint Joseph’s into the NCAA Tournament, and the bracket is revealed on Sunday night. For our money, a team that wins a shootout like that, with a goalkeeper in that kind of form, is a horrible draw for anyone.
