Richmond senior Teddy Hatfield is seven goals away from the program's career-scoring record.
- SHELBY LUM/TIMES-DISPATCH
Teddy Hatfield
This has been going on for four lacrosse seasons, so it’s not as if University of Richmond opponents are unaware that Teddy Hatfield can score. Hatfield, from Summit, N.J., continues to stretch the net despite the defensive attention the senior attack attracts.
Hatfield, a starter since his freshman year, could become UR’s career-leading scorer this week. The Spiders (1-1), in their sixth season as a Division I program, open their home schedule Tuesday at 4 p.m. against UMBC (0-1), and then face No. 7 Notre Dame (1-0) Saturday at Robins Stadium at noon.
UMBC's visit begins a six-game Richmond homestand. Barring injury or some highly unusual development, Hatfield will sit atop the Spiders’ career scoring list by the time they hit the road again. He has 92 goals. The program record is held by Mitch Goldberg, now a Richmond assistant coach. He scored 99 career goals 2014-18 (redshirted one year because of knee injury).
“I’ve played with some tremendous teammates over the years, Mitch included,” said Hatfield, who scored four goals in UR’s 13-11 win Saturday at Bucknell. “Very few of my goals are just me kind of running through a defense. A lot of it has to do with the team defense, the goalies, and the [other] players on offense. I couldn’t have scored those goals without them.”
Hatfield, a 6-foot-1 180-pounder, already is the program's career leader in points (goals plus assists), and assists.
“Super-talented, super-skilled, and he works really well in this offense,” said Ryan Lee, a UR senior attack. “He’s always working off-ball to get himself open and to get everybody else open. Whenever I’m out there and I have the ball, I always know if I look up and see Teddy, he’s going to be open.”
Hatfield, an All-Southern Conference selection each of the last two years, has four assists, tied for the team lead, to go with his six goals this season. This knack for getting in scoring position and finishing, and finding other Spiders who do the same, is the result of Hatfield’s preparation and attention to detail, according to Richmond coach Dan Chemotti.
“We expect a lot out of him, and he’s a bit of a coach on the field. He helps get guys to the right spots,” said Chemotti, whose team opened with a 10-9 loss at No. 3 Maryland. “There are no days off for him. He shows up like it’s game day every single day.”
The Spiders were designated as the favorites in the Southern Conference preseason poll, and are the league's defending champions (regular season and tournament).
