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Alphabetical 2014 NCAA D1 Preview: Richmond

The NCAA D1 season is now underway! During the first couple of weeks of lacrosse season we’ll be finishing up the Alphabetical 2014 NCAA D1 Previews! We are going through all of the D1 men’s teams for 2014 (there are 67 this year!) and we are now moving on to the brand new Richmond Spiders, located in Richmond, VA.

Richmond has one game under their belt already, and for most first year programs taking on Virginia, this would spell disaster. For the Spiders however, things nearly worked out to a story book beginning as they pushed the Top 20 Cavs to the brink, eventually suffering a 13-12 loss in their first game.

Mitchell Goldberg led the way offensively for Richmond and he notched three goals and two assists. The lanky freshman should be a force for years. Michael Burns, Alex Hatem, and Dan Ginestro each added two goals, and Jean-Luc Chetner, JP Forester, and Brad Burnam all added single markers. Peter Moran did well on face offs going 13-25 and picking up 4 GBs. In all, 26 players saw time on the field for Richmond, which was impressive considering how tight the game was.

Conor Shannon and Benny Pugh each got a half in goal, and Shannon got the start in the game. Each goalie saw 20 or more shots and made at least as many saves as goals let in. Will a pure starter emerge? Or will we see goalie by committee? Down low, these goalies are surrounded by young talent. Jackson Cabot is a tall pole who can handle the ball (and already has an assist). Ryan Dennis, Tom Monzo, and Ryan Berning all started against Virginia. It’s not a tall group, but they can run and cover well.

I was excited to watch Richmond make the transition to D1 this year, but if their game 1 result is any indication I may have missed my chance… it looks like Richmond has arrived already! With games against Hartford, Mercer, UMBC, Holy Cross, and Vermont in the near future, one has to wonder where win #1 will come from. Then one has to wonder where win #2 will come from! Maybe Richmond will come back to Earth, but they’re here, and they’re serious. That much we know for sure.

For more NCAA D1 Lacrosse coverage, check out Alphabetical 2013 NCAA D1 Preview: Air ForceAlbanyArmyBellarmineBinghamtonBostonBrownBryantBucknellCanisius,
Colgate,  CornellDartmouthDelawareDetroitDrexelDukeFairfieldFurman,
GeorgetownHartfordHarvardHigh PointHobartHofstraHoly CrossJacksonvilleJohns_HopkinsLafayetteLehighLoyolaManhattanMaristMarquette,
MarylandMassachusettsMercerMichiganMonmouthNavyNorth Carolina,
Notre DameOhio StatePennPenn State, Princeton, Providence, and Quinnipiac.