Field hockey’s season ended with a loss to Bucknell in two overtimes in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. This was the team’s first loss all season. 

VCU was able to score the first goal of the game in the second period off of a penalty corner. Junior Litiana Field scored the goal with senior Svea Sturm and junior Janne Wetzel assisting. VCU took a total of six shots that period, three of them coming off of corners. 

Bucknell then tied the game in the third period off of a penalty corner to put the game at 1-1. Wetzel almost scored the game-winning goal for VCU off a penalty corner in the fourth period but the ball just went wide of the goal. The score would remain 1-1 for the remainder of regulation until the teams went into two overtimes. 

VCU was able to get a shot in the first overtime but Bucknell blocked it. The Rams would then get two more chances to take the lead in the second overtime from Field and freshman Bridget McCormick off of penalty corners but both shots either went wide or hit the post of the goal. Bucknell scored the game-winning goal off a penalty corner to win 2-1. 

VCU led Bucknell in shots 17-7. Senior Emily Van Hijfte led the Rams with 4 shots, 2 being on goal. 

Despite the early end in the tournament, VCU still was able to pull off a historical season going 7-0 in the regular season and sweeping the competition in the Atlantic-10 Tournament. In all 9 games they played, the Rams only allowed 5 goals by their opponents, courtesy of junior goalkeeper, Sasha Elliott. Wetzel and McCormick both led the team in goals scoring 5 in the season. Maite Sturm led the team in assists (7), with her sister Svea having 6. 

With the season now ended, VCU can look back on this year and cherish the memories they had and celebrate the accomplishments they’ve earned. What a season it was for this team.