August 30, 2009

HARTMAN’S TWO GOALS HIGHLIGHTS RAMS’ DECISIVE 3-0 WIN OVER WOFFORD
Box Score

SPARTANBURG, N.C. – If the Virginia Commonwealth University women’s soccer team posts a shutout this season, its reward is a trip to the popular donut shop, Krispy Kreme.

Well Krispy Kreme better have the “Hot and Ready” sign lit because the Rams put together a total team effort and dominated throughout on Sunday en route to a decisive 3-0 victory at Wofford College.

“We really played well today,” Co-Head Coach Tim Sahaydak said. “We’re starting to get everyone back to full strength and it showed. We were able to control the ball for most of the game and really hold them to just one deep shot attempt.”

Senior leadership led the offensive attack with June Hartman (Virginia Beach, Va.) tallying her first two goals of the season and classmate Jasmine Riley (Arlington, Va.) added a goal and an assist on the afternoon.  

Hard work got the Black & Gold on the board first as senior Sarah McAulay (Midlothian, Va.) (left) won a battle near midfield and advanced it to Hartman, who won another battle in the air and pushed it forward to Riley who sped through the Terrier defense and found the back of the net to give VCU a 1-0 advantage.

Sophomore Heather Hovanesian (Centreville, Va.) (bottom right) helped create the second goal as she dribbled down the right sideline and slid a pass into a scramble in front, where Hartman was able to get a foot on the ball and tickle the twine for a 2-0 lead.

Athleticism and timing capped off the scoring for VCU with Riley dribbling through the Wofford defense and sending a beautiful pass through the box to Hartman, who beat the Terrier goaltender to the ball for her second goal of the afternoon and a 3-0 Black & Gold advantage.

“We really had a lot of good scoring opportunities throughout the day,” Sahaydak added. “A great save and a wide shot kept it from being a 5-0 win, we’re just really pleased with the way the team is starting to come together as a cohesive unit.”

The backline of the Rams was just as good as the offense, not allowing a single goal scoring opportunity and limiting the Terriers to just two shots on the afternoon.

“Our back four were phenomenal today,” Sahaydak commented. “That’s the way we hope to play every game. They didn’t allow Wofford any chance to create opportunities.”

Redshirt sophomore Chenae Nelson (Alexandria, Va.) played all 90 minutes in goal to register her first collegiate shutout.

The Rams are back on the road next weekend, participating in the UNC Greensboro Invitational. Play begins on Friday with VCU taking on in-state rival Virginia Tech at 5 p.m.