October 2, 2009

RAMS BATTLE GEORGIA STATE TO SCORELESS TIE
Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – One thing is for sure. The Virginia Commonwealth University women’s soccer team can play some stifling defense.

Unfortunately for the Rams, soccer is a two sided game as the Black & Gold offense had a tough offensive night in a scoreless draw with the Panthers of Georgia State on Friday night in Colonial Athletic Association women’s soccer action.

“It’s a good thing it’s not a loss, but we can’t be pleased with the result tonight,” Co-Head Coach Tim Sahaydak said. “We’re struggling to get some consistency on offense. We have to have someone step up and take the lead up front.”

With the tie, VCU moves to 5-4-2 on the year and 1-1-1 in CAA action, while Georgia State picks up its first point in CAA play with a 6-4-2 mark and 0-2-1 record in the conference season.

It was a physical match early with the Black & Gold picking up seven first half fouls, but neither team was able to create scoring opportunities until late in the first half when senior June Hartman (Virginia Beach, Va.) worked her way down the right sideline and slid a pass through the box, Georgia State was able to knock it away.

Just ten minutes into the second half, it looked like the Rams might get on the board when sophomore Meaghan Dullea (Virginia Beach, Va.) lofted a corner kick into the box where it found the right foot of freshman Gabby Wilson (Woodbridge, Va.). Wilson unleashed a shot from about eight yards out, but a Panther defender was in the right place to come up with a team save and keep the game scoreless.

The senior duo of Hartman and Jasmine Riley (Arlington, Va.) tried to hook up in the 73rd minute when Riley broke free down the left sideline and fed a beautiful pass through the box to a cutting Hartman, but Georgia State goalkeeper Heidi Blankenship was able to break up the play.

Wilson would be a threat all night for the Rams with a nice pass to Azania (Taboao Da Sarra, Brazil) with just three minutes left, but a diving save by Blankenship kept VCU off the board and sent the game into overtime.

Sophomore Heather Hovanesian (Centreville, Va.) tried to help end the game in the 104th minute when she dribbled her way through the Georgia State backline and found Wilson, who blasted a shot from 10 yards out, but Blankenship came up with another save.

The Panthers would never really threaten as the Black & Gold controlled the tempo, but could not find the back of the net.

Wilson was the main threat offensively for the Rams with seven shots, three of which were on goal. As a team, the Black & Gold rattled off 20 shots compared to the Panthers’ 13.

Senior Kate Hudson (Clarksville, Md.) picked up her fifth shutout of the season, registering five saves on the evening.

VCU is back in action again on Sunday when it hosts the Seahawks of UNC Wilmington in a 1 p.m. contest.