September 24, 2009

RAMS RUN OUT OF TIME IN 1-0 LOSS AT TOWSON
Box Score

TOWSON, Md. – There’s so many times in life when the people wish for more time in a day.

Unfortunately that was the case for the Virginia Commonwealth University women’s soccer team in its Colonial Athletic Association opener at Towson University on Thursday afternoon. The Tigers got an early goal to grab a 1-0 lead and fought off a fierce second half attack by the Black & Gold to pick up the win.

“It’s something we’ve been struggling with this year. We start slow and make a push in a second half. Unfortunately today, we just ran out of time,” Co-Head Coach Tim Sahaydak said. “We had some great chances late, but it just wasn’t our day.”

VCU brought a 408:28 shutout streak into the contest, but that streak was ended 13:58 into the contest when Ashley Ventura fired a shot from 25 yards out into the back of the net to give Towson a 1-0 advantage.

Both defenses owned the rest of the first half with neither team making a real scoring chance.

The Rams were awakened at the half and came out firing with seven second-half shots compared to just three in the first 45 minutes.

Senior Sarah McAulay (Midlothian, Va.) forced Tiger goalkeeper Kristen Sample to make a save just 10 minutes into the second half and VCU would keep the pressure on.

With less than five minutes left, freshman Ashley Grant (Nokesville, Va.) nearly tied the game up and collected her first collegiate goal. Senior Jasmine Riley (Arlington, Va.) worked her way down the left sideline and fed a cross to Grant, who blasted a shot that Towson defender Danielle Rosanova to make a team save. The rebounder then bounced back to Grant, and she fired again, this time it skimmed the post to keep the score at 1-0.

Senior June Hartman (Virginia Beach, Va.) got a chance with 25 seconds left, but Sample was again able to make the save and hold on for her second shutout of the year.

The Rams held a 10-9 advantage in shots and 4-2 in shots on goal. Hartman and Riley led the way with three shots apiece.

Senior Kate Hudson (Clarksville, Md.) made two saves on a day in which her streak of four straight shutouts was snapped.

VCU is back in action at home on Sunday afternoon with a 1 p.m. contest against the Patriots of George Mason University.