East Carolina University

The University of Richmond opened the 2012 regular season on Saturday, Feb. 18, with a 17-5 victory over host East Carolina University. The game also marked UR’s first-ever game as a member of the MCLA. Eight different Spider players posted multi-point games, led by junior attack Jack Hayden (Purchase, N.Y./Fordham Prep) who registered a game-high 6 points with 2 goals and 4 assists.

Sophomore midfielder Doug Slaughter (Baltimore, Md./St. Pauls) – 2g, opened up the game with Richmond’s first-ever MCLA goal. Sophomore Robby Barnhart (Chanhassen, Minn./Blake) came off of the bench early and gave UR an early spark, scoring unassisted, followed by goals by senior Chris Rigoli (Wrentham, Mass./Xaverian Bros.) and junior Warren Kraft (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y./Portledge School). UR went up 4-0 before ECU tallied their first goal of the day to make the score 4-1. Slaughter scored his second of the day to regain the four goal edge at 5-1. ECU got some momentum and scored two more goals to go into the half 5-3.

The Spiders then came out roaring, scoring two goals in less than a minute to start the half to go up 7-3. The UR men then scored the next four goals to take an 11-3 lead into the fourth quarter. The entire UR bench got into the action cruising to a 17-5 finish. Fourteen total Spiders scored on route to the victory

Freshman goalie Ryan McDevitt (Newtown Square,Pa./Malvern Prep) totaled 12 saves on the day before giving way to freshman net minder Mike Buckbinder (Priceton Junction, N.J./ Hun School) who tallied 3 saves. Austin Helm (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing) dominated the face offs going 13 for 17. Helm also contributed 2 assists on the day. Transition midfielder Chris Wolfe (Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich) controlled the middle of the field with 8 ground balls to lead the team. The defense led by junior Danny Driscoll (Colts Neck, N.J./Peddie School) and sophomore Fabrizio Aguirre (Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Country Day) controlled the ECU offense all day. Freshman defender Rob Kelly (Rumson, N.J./Rumson Fair Haven) had 7 ground balls on the day as well.

Goals: Hayden (2g, 4a), Kraft (2g, 1a), Rigoli (2g, 1a), Palmer (1g), Slaughter (2g), Helm (2a), Daniel (1g, 1a), Volpert (2g), Failla (1g), Wolfe (1g), Barnhart (2g), O’Brien 1g, 1a), Driscoll (1a), Poirier (1a)

Record: UR (1-0, 0-0 SELC Div. I), ECU (0-3, 0-1 SELC Div. 1)