Bison snap Rams’ five game winning streak

Graves scored the first goal for VCU with seven minutes remaining in the second half, sending the match to overtime.

The game remained tied throughout the first overtime and late into the second. VCU scored the winning goal when Fox made a header from the six-yard box and took home the win.

NILE MCNAIR

Contributing Writer

Coming off a five-game winning streak after defeating St. Francis University 1-0, the Rams’ run was snapped by Bucknell University in a back-and-forth affair that ended 3-2 in favor of the Bison.

Bucknell

This road matchup for VCU was higher-scoring than the previous game against St. Francis. VCU started fast and scored the first goal of the game.

Senior forward Emily McNamara scored from a penalty corner after receiving a great pass from freshman defender Litiana Field. McNamara’s score put VCU up 1-0 early in the first half.

The Bison responded in a big way during the first half. After VCU’s first goal, the Bison struck back with three unanswered goals. Lexi Quick scored off a penalty corner of her own.

Bucknell’s next score came from the team’s leading scorer Brittany Willwerth. A penalty stroke goal about twenty minutes into the game gave Willwerth her seventh of the season.

The final goal of the first half came from Bucknell’s Nicole Rupnik — a deflected shot that found its way into the net. Rupnik’s goal gave the Bison a 3-1 lead heading into halftime.

Midway through the second half, the Rams scored for the second time. This goal came from freshman defender Janne Wetzel,

“I think we need to start with more aggression,” Fox said. “I think our focus was a little off coming into the game. It took us a while to switch on, it took us a whole half to be down. I think we definitely need to start stronger so we don’t end in predicaments like that again.”

Dayton

The Rams played conference rival Dayton Sept. 27 and routed the Flyers to push their winning streak to five.

Sophomore midfielder Samantha Jerabek started the game off, scoring the first goal in the 13th minute — her eighth this season.

Junior midfielder Alyssa Tallent proceeded to tack on two more goals, with Graves adding another. Graves’ score in the 57th minute marked her third goal of the season while Tallent gained her second and third in the 53rd and 83rd minutes, respectively.

In the end, the Black and Gold squad proved too much for Dayton, shutting the Flyers out on the road in the 4-0 win. VCU held the advantages, outdoing Dayton 12-9 in shots and 6-2 in shots on goal.

The Rams continue their stay at home, going up against A-10 opponents Davidson College Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. Then, they will travel to St. Joseph’s University Oct. 7.

with Field converting her second assist of the game.

With Wetzel’s goal, VCU was able to close the deficit to one point, but they were unable to complete the comeback. Neither team scored the rest of the game, and the Rams lost 3-2, snapping their five-game winning streak.

ST. FRANCIS

Looking to continue its four-game winning streak, VCU went on the road to play against the St. Francis Red Flash. A defensive struggle prevailed throughout the game as neither team scored in either half.

Both teams had opportunities during the first and second half. The Red Flash finished with seven total shots, while the Rams finished with eight. VCU racked up six of its eight shots during the second half.

VCU freshman goalkeeper Sasha Elliott pitched a shutout, including a save in overtime.

In overtime, sophomore midfielder Maite Sturm took it upon herself to finish the game, scoring an unassisted goal in the seventy-fifth minute to end the contest. Sturm’s goal was the breakthrough VCU needed to secure the win and extend its win streak to five games.

The 1-0 win over St. Francis pushed VCU to 6-3 and 3-0 in A-10 play.

VCU will continue its stay at home against Rider University Oct. 3 at 11 a.m. and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Oct. 7 at 1 p.m.