2018 Men’s Lacrosse Year in Review: #15 Richmond Spiders

With the 2018 college lacrosse season complete and fall ball just around the corner, it’s time to start looking back at how all 71 teams did during the season, as well as what to expect from each squad for 2019. These are not end of season rankings, as some people might think.

We’re almost done looking back to 2018 with plenty of team recaps thus far and continued our series yesterday with Villanova.

So with that, let’s continue the recaps!

#15 Richmond Spiders

Conference: SoCon
2018 Record: 11-6 (6-1 in SoCon play)
Postseason: Defeated Furman and Jacksonville to win SoCon championship, lost to Albany in NCAA First Round
Head coach: Dan Chemotti (5th Year)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Teddy Hatfield (34)
Assists: Teddy Hatfield (25)
Points: Teddy Hatfield (59)
Faceoffs: Garrett Smith (95-of-223; 42.6%)
Ground balls: Austin Cates (56)
Caused turnovers: Jason Reynolds (17)
Goals against average: Blake Goodman (10.38 GAA)
Save percentage: Blake Goodman (48.4%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: D Nick Capuana (32 GBs, 15 CTs), LSM Austin Cates (56 GBs, 15 CTs, 2 As), M Mitch Goldberg (21 Gs, 10 As), FOGO Garrett Smith (42.6% faceoff draws, 28 GBs, 1 G), M Austin Brown (11 Gs, 8 As), A Layne Collins (10 Gs, 6 As, 12 GBs), SSDM Anthony Faraino (17 GBs, 11 CTs, 1 G, 1 A), M Eric Haehl (6 Gs, 10 As)
Senior scoring departing: 89 of 295 points (30.2%)
Senior starts lost: 55 of 170 (32.4%)

Season Summary

In their first year of play, the Spiders found a way to get into the NCAA Tournament. Four years later, it happened for the second time in program history as Richmond was able to take the SoCon championship in thrilling fashion over Jacksonville.

Head coach Dan Chemotti and the Spiders had a challenging nonconference slate and it showed early on. After a season-opening loss to UMBC, Richmond edged Bucknell by a goal thanks to Mitch Goldberg’s tally with 31 seconds left. After a win over Mount St. Mary’s, the team faced three ACC opponents in their next four games. Against Notre Dame in South Bend, the Spiders were shutout in the first half before exploding for six goals and briefly take a one-goal lead. But the Fighting Irish were able to thwart any chance of an upset by scoring six of the game’s final seven goals to take home the win. Duke then took care of Richmond without any scare.

After Richmond opened SoCon play with a win over VMI, the Spiders hosted North Carolina in a midweek contest. Despite going ahead early in the first half, the Tar Heels managed to tie the game at 10 in the fourth quarter. But Ryan Lee’s score with 8:10 left was all the team needed to earn their first ever victory over a Power 5 team at home. But that excitement quickly ended after Furman pulled off a one-goal upset a few days later. A win over High Point and a rally by Virginia in the second half to fall to the Cavaliers put the Spiders in April.

They took care of business with close wins over Bellarmine, Jacksonville, and Mercer as well as a six-goal win over Air Force to enter the SoCon Tournament. This time against the Paladins, the Spiders doubled them up with a 16-8 win to advance to their fifth consecutive conference championship. Richmond needed two fourth quarter goals from Ryan Lee to force overtime where Teddy Hatfield sealed the conference championship with 1:32 left in the extra session. With Richmond in the NCAA Tournament, they found out they didn’t have to play in the Play-In game, which was a surprise, but had to play Albany in the First Round. Richmond’s year came to an end in the Capital Region with a 19-8 loss.

Hatfield and Lee, both juniors, were accompanied by freshman Ryan Lanchbury at attack. All three players had at least 20 goals and 15 assists on the year with Hatfield leading the way in both categories on the team. Seniors Layne Collins and Jack Worstell also got some time at attack. Goldberg and senior Eric Haehl were joined by star freshman Mitch Savoca up at midfield. Savoca led the middies with 26 goals and was tied with Goldberg with 31 points on the year. Senior Austin Brown and sophomore Tyler Shoults registered at least 15 points each.

On defense, freshman Jason Reynolds started all 17 games for the Spiders and led the team with 17 caused turnovers. He joined a starting unit that also included senior Nick Capuana and junior Rob Schotta. Sophomore Jack Cook and redshirt-freshman Matt Binnion also appeared in a handful of games. Senior Austin Cates was the top LSM for the Spiders and led the team with 56 ground balls. Sophomore Sean Menges was also a valuable player with 15 caused turnovers, tied with Cates, and two goals. Senior Anthony Faraino, junior Coleman Kissick, and sophomore Tate Gallagher were the primary short stick defensive midfielders. Senior Garrett Smith took the majority of the faceoffs but junior Nick D’Amaro also took a good chunk and finished with a 42.6% win rate, the same as Smith. Sophomore Blake Goodman took the reigns as starting goalie after the departure of Benny Pugh.

Looking Ahead

The good news for Richmond is their entire starting attack is back for one more year. Hatfield is one of the best offensive weapons in the SoCon and Lanchbury and Savoca at midfield are looking like very good contributors as well. The Spiders do have to find some new pieces to replace two of their three main starters at midfield. Shoults could be an obvious option as one replacement.

The defense however loses some important parts. Cates, Capuana, Faraino, and even Smith at the faceoff X played significant roles on the Richmond defense, especially with Cates. But with Reynolds back at close, Menges possibly moving to close defense full-time or staying at LSM, and Goodman improving on his play in goal, the Spiders definitely have enough to reach to the SoCon championship for another season.

Here’s who the Spiders will be adding to their roster for next year.*

*Compiled from a multitude of websites. Schools usually officially announce their recruiting class during the fall semester.