RICHMOND, Va.—The Bellarmine lacrosse team surrendered just one goal after halftime, but the Knights' offense didn't take advantage as the host Richmond Spiders held on for an 8-6 victory in a Southern Conference game at Robins Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
The second quarter was the turning point as Richmond extended 3-2 lead to a margin of three (7-4) at halftime.  After the break, the teams combined for just three goals.  The Spiders pushed their lead to four late in the third quarter, but Brian Wall answered for the Knights with his second goal of the game with just 49 seconds remaining in the frame.
 
A penalty on Richmond gave the Knights possession to open the fourth, but Bellarmine couldn't take advantage as Wall hit the pipe with his shot and Spider goalie Blake Goodman made the first of five saves in the final period.
 
Bellarmine goalie John Hulsman and the Knights' defense kept BU in striking distance by shutting out the Spiders in the final period.  Hulsman recorded six of his 13 saves in final 15 minutes.
 
However, the Knights' offense didn't break through for a goal until just over two minutes remained when Landon Trout scored with his second score of the game to Bellarmine within two at 8-6.  Michael Autry won the ensuing faceoff for the Knights, but Trout's shot was saved by Goodman, and the Spiders were able to run out the clock to hold on for the win.
 
Richmond, which improved to 6-5, 3-1 SoCon, got a hat trick from Teddy Hatfield to lead all scorers, and the attackman also was credited a game-high four ground balls.
 
Wall and Trout led the Knights with two goals apiece with Autry and Stephen Votto also recording scores while James Whiteford and Ian Miller added assists.
 
Defensively, Jon Robbins and Brendan Fennell each tallied two caused turnovers while Hulsman finished with a 61.9 save percentage.
 
Bellarmine, which slips to 2-8, 0-4 SoCon, returns to action on Thursday when the Knights host Mercer in a 1 p.m. game.
 
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