JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Making its first trip to the state of Florida, Richmond men’s lacrosse posted seven-straight goals and put together another offensive explosion in a 17-8 road win at Jacksonville in Southern Conference action Saturday at D.B. Milne Field. Richmond improves to 5-3 on the season, and 2-0 in the SoCon to remain atop the standings.
With the victory, Richmond surpasses last season’s regular-season wins total, while their second road win matches last season’s total in the second season of varsity lacrosse. It was the third time this season that the Spiders have scored 15 or more goals, more than in any game in their inaugural season in 2014.
Richmond scored in bunches in the contest, with a 3-0 run or better in every quarter. After trailing 1-0 in the early going, the Spiders reeled off three goals in the next seven minutes of the first quarter. Freshman Eric Haehl (Bellevue, Washington) scored two-straight goals in s 40-second period in the waning stages to build the lead. The quarter closed with the Dolphins scoring twice to tie the game at three.
That’s when Richmond turned up the pressure and shutout JU 5-0 in the quarter as part of a 7-0 scoring run that extended into the early portion of the third quarter. J.P. Forester (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan) and Cory Palmer (Atlanta, Georgia) scored twice in the run to put the Spiders up 10-3 just a few minutes into the third quarter.
After two goals from Jacksonville, Richmond scored four more to extend the lead out to 14-5. The Spiders posted a 3-0 goal run in the fourth quarter for their last scoring.
Richmond sophomore goalie Benny Pugh (Powhatan, Virginia / Woodberry Forest School) played nearly the entire game and made nine saves for his fifth win of the season (5-3).
Palmer and redshirt senior Mickey Hofmeister (Williamsburg, Virginia / Jamestown HS) both registered hat tricks, the first career three-goal game for Palmer, while it was Hofmeister’s second hat trick with UR, seventh of his career. Richmond is now 5-0 when two players score at least three goals in the same game.
The Spiders are also 6-1 against teams they play a second time. This was the first opponent Richmond has faced that it defeated in its first meeting.
Hofmeister and sophomore Mitch Goldberg (Damascus, Maryland) both continued their scoring streaks. Hofmeister has registered a point in his last 22 straight games, going back to his time at VMI. He also has a goal in 14 consecutive games. Goldberg has a point in 17 straight and a goal in his last 12, dating back to last season.
The Spiders will make a quick turnaround and play Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. against first-year lacrosse program NJIT. Lacrosse contests at Richmond are free of charge.
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