September 19, 2008

RAMS SCORE EARLY AND OFTEN TO TOPPLE TERRIERS
VCU wins third straight with 5-1 pounding of Wofford

RICHMOND, Va.—The Virginia Commonwealth University women’s soccer team hammered Wofford on Friday night at Sports Backers Stadium to pick up its third consecutive win. It was just the second meeting between the schools, and the Rams’ 5-1 triumph lacked the drama of the first meeting, when VCU won in overtime in 1999.

VCU struck early, taking a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute on a goal by June Hartman (Virginia Beach, Va.). Stephanie Power (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia) found Azania (Taboao Da Serra, Brazil), who fed Hartman with a heel pass. Hartman finished the play with her second goal of the season. The Rams added to their lead 34 minutes later when Megan Flanagan (Franktown, Colo.) notched her second goal of the season. Power launched a long pass to Francesca Gioeli (New York, N.Y.). Gioeli found Flanagan, who rocketed the ball into the net from 20 yards out.

Wofford cut into the lead three minutes into the second half when Maggie McLaughlin took advantage of a VCU turnover and fired the ball past senior goalkeeper Kali Van Covern (Waynesboro, Va.).

The Rams countered with three unanswered goals, the first by Power. Flanagan fed Laurel Pastor (Springfield, Va.) inside the box, who touched it inside to Power. The senior finished the play, driving it in from 10 yards out.

Flanagan, who finished with five points, added her second goal of the evening in the 60th minute. Power stretched it down the field with a long pass to Pastor, who fed Flanagan in the box for a wide open shot from five yards out. At that point, Power had contributed to the last nine VCU goals. She finished with five points on the night—one goal and three assists. She has 13 points in the past three contests.

VCU added one more score in the 80th minute, an unassisted goal by Pastor. The sophomore rifled a shot past Wofford goalkeeper Katie McChesney from 20 yards out to complete the scoring.

Making her first career start, Van Covern picked up the victory to improve to 1-0. Her defensive teammates aided her by limiting the Terriers to just six shots. The Rams kept the pressure on the Wofford defense by ratcheting out 22 shots, including 11 shots on the goal. The Rams were granted 12 corner kicks, compared to just five by the Terriers.

With the win, VCU improves to 3-4. Wofford drops to 1-4-3. The Rams will travel to Annapolis, Md. to take on Navy on Sunday. VCU co-head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak was a teammate for six seasons with Navy head coach Carin Gabarra.

“We’ve kept in touch,” Sahaydak said. “She’s given me advice on everything from coaching to being a mom.”