September 4, 2009

RAMS DROP 4-3 OVERTIME DECISION TO VIRGINIA TECH
Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. – In the interview heading into the UNC Greensboro Invitational, Virginia Commonwealth University women’s soccer Co-Head Coach Tim Sahaydak mentioned about how many battles there were in practice recently.

That was good preparation for the Black & Gold, who found themselves in a see-saw battle against in-state rival, Virginia Tech (3-1), in the opening game of the four-team tournament.

Unfortunately, the Hokies’ Kelsey Billups found the back of the net with under three minutes to play in the first overtime to drop the Rams (1-2), 4-3.

Offense dominated throughout the contest with sophomore Heather Hovanesian (Centreville, Va.) getting things started early.  She took a pass from senior Jasmine Riley (Arlington, Va.) and deposited into the left corner of the net for her first collegiate goal to give VCU a 1-0 advantage just 1:45 into the game.

All-ACC performer Emily Jukich answered back for Tech with her second goal of the year in the ninth minute to even the score at 1-1.

The two teams battled the rest of the first half with the Black & Gold continually fending off pressure from the potent Virginia Tech offense.

After the intermission the Hokies wasted little time in grabbing a lead with Kelly Conheeney getting a head on a free kick from Julia Goldsworthy and finding the back of the net to give Tech a 2-1 lead in the 51st minute.

Just 15 minutes later, senior Myriam Bouchard (Quebec City, Quebec) tickled the twine in nearly an identical play, this time the free kick came off the foot of sophomore Meaghan Dullea (Virginia Beach, Va.) to even the score at 2-2.

Marika Gray made VCU pay for not clearing the box as she got a foot on a scramble in front and tipped into the left side of the net to regain the lead in Tech’s favor, 3-2, in the 74th minute. 

The Rams answered right back, as they did all day, when Riley took a long pass from Bouchard and chipped it over a drawn out goaltender for her third goal in three games and tied the game at 3-3 in the 79th minute.

The back-and-forth battle continued over the final 11 minutes of regulation with senior goaltender Kate Hudson (Clarksville, Md.) making several outstanding saves to keep the game tied.

After the game headed into overtime, Billups unleashed a shot from the top of box and found the upper left corner of the net to give Virginia Tech the dramatic 4-3 victory.

Riley and Bouchard each finished with a goal and an assist to lead the Black & Gold offense, while Hudson finished with eight saves on the evening.

The Rams conclude their stay at the UNCG Invitational with a 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon contest with the host squad.