SpiderTV PREVIEW

The game will be played on a neutral site at Miami (OH) and Richmond will then play the RedHawks on Sunday at 11 a.m.

The Spiders, who won five-straight Atlantic 10 titles from 2002-06, finished third in the Atlantic 10 last season and lost 1-0 in the conference semifinals to eventual champion Massachusetts.

Richmond lost just two players off of last year's squad and matured significantly in the offseason. While second-year head coach Gina Lucido feels the Spiders have a ways to go, she feels they are ready for the opener against her alma mater. Lucido was an All-American at Ball State during her senior year in 1994 and led the Cardinals to three conference titles during her career.

"Practice has been tough, we're still trying to establish an identity and a culture here at Richmond," Lucido said. "We're going in the right direction, but there's a lot of work to be done. We're looking to come together on a high note for the opening weekend."

Richmond returns all but two graduated seniors off last year's squad - Erin Arthur and Tara Kelly. While the departed seniors leave a big void, an influx of new talent and a significant improvement by the rising sophomores should have the Spiders ready to go Saturday.

"The building blocks that need to be in place are there," Lucido said. "I know this group is going to fight. I know if we come out fighting, I think we have a good chance of getting the success that we desire."

The Spiders' home opener is next Saturday, Sept. 6 when Richmond hosts Princeton at Crenshaw Field.