By: Jack Laudano
The VCU Women’s Soccer team faced the UMass Minutewomen in a conference match Sunday at Sports Backers stadium. The Rams came out hot and had multiple shots in the first 30 minutes but none of them found their way into the net. Sophomore Amanda Tredway had a great chance with 5 minutes left in the half. She found herself one on one with the keeper after a great pass from senior Amanda Hallesjo, but Tredway’s shot was just wide of the net.
At the half, the Rams had 10 shots compared to 2 shots attempted by UMass.
The Second half started with strong play from the Minutewomen. UMass conceded a free kick outside of their penalty box that was taken for a shot by Tori Browne but sailed just wide. In the 64th minute the Rams had another great chance at goal after UMass’ keeper Babin deflected a shot to Tredway whose shot sailed over the goal. In the 73rd minute, sophomore Alyssa Tallent found herself in a shot opportunity and had the keeper beat, but the ball rolled off of the goalpost to keep the match at 0-0.
In the 87th minute UMass was awarded a corner kick that was deflected up by a VCU defender, but followed by what appeared to be a UMass goal, but the referee had found the shooter offside. The match began to wind down as extra time began to seem imminent. Sophomore Ingrid Brouwer took one last shot at goal which sailed wide left, and regulation time had come to an end with both teams still deadlocked at 0-0.
As the first of two 10-minute halves kicked off, both sides went back and forth with chances on goal but nothing was finding it’s way into goal for either team. VCU was then awarded a free kick again outside of the box for UMass, which the Minutewomen promptly cleared. The reams kept battling downfield and creating chances on goal, but again could not find the shot they needed. The half came to an end with both teams unable to find the net.
As the second half of extra time started, both teams looked energized and motivated to come out with a win. The Rams had multiple chances on goal that all found their way over the net, but they would not give up. The VCU keeper Sanderson had a great save in the last minutes of extra time to preserve the draw, and the match came to a close. The final score was 0-0 and the Rams’ next match is Thursday October 5th at home against St. Josephs’s.
