October 23, 2009

RAMS SHUTOUT FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT TIME IN 3-0 LOSS AT HOFSTRA
Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – A soccer goal is 24 feet wide and eight feet high.

For the Virginia Commonwealth University women’s soccer, it seems that the goal has shrunk to 24 inches wide and eight inches high as the Rams were shutout for the fourth straight time in a 3-0 road loss at Hofstra University on Friday evening in Colonial Athletic Association action.

“We’re battling a short bench and a young team,” Co-Head Coach Tim Sahaydak said. “Together those two things can be tough to manage at times and that’s what we’re going through right now. Hofstra’s a tough team, that’s why they are leading the conference, and they are even tougher at home.”

With the loss, the Rams drop to 6-9-2 overall and 2-6-1 in conference action, while the league-leading Pride improve to 10-4-2 on the year and 7-1-1 in CAA play.

Senior Cara Howard (Newport News, Va.) unleashed the first shot of the game in the seventh minute with a blast from 25 yards out that went high.

Unfortunately, that would be the last shot of the first half for the Black & Gold as Hofstra fired off six first half shots and controlled the pace of play, finally striking pay dirt in the 38th minute after a hand ball in the box resulted in a Pride penalty kick. Diane Caldwell stepped up and blasted her third goal of the season home to give Hofstra a 1-0 lead heading into the intermission.

The Pride came out even stronger in the second half, firing 10 shots in the first 30 minutes, tallying two goals and holding a commanding 3-0 advantage.

“I felt we were able to battle hard with them in the first 45, but they seemed to come out with more fire than us in the second half and that was shown on the scoreboard,” Sahaydak added.

VCU would try to put some pressure on with senior Jasmine Riley (Arlington, Va.) getting the best chance in the 84th minute with a rifled shot off the cross bar.

Hofstra’s defense was able to hold strong and increase the Black & Gold’s goal-less streak to 360:05.

The Rams are back in action on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Boston, Mass. to take on the Huskies of Northeastern University in a 1 p.m. contest.