Anger puts right foot Forward as co-captain

With the blazing sun beating down upon the competing athletes gracing the field of Sports Backer Stadium Saturday, Aug. 20, there was one in particular who didn’t seem to mind the heat. Running around the field in jubilation with arms spread, Sandra Anger celebrated her second goal of the afternoon in a game in which Virginia Commonwealth defeated visiting American University 8-2.

Anger, a senior, shined in the Rams’ first game of the season. She showed how much potential the team has to repeat as Colonial Athletic Association champions and improve upon its success of last season where they advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.

An exercise science major, Anger is a clear leader on the team, sharing the title of captain with fellow senior Jennifer Woodie (Woodbridge High School). In her fourth season with the team, she is much more comfortable being a vocal force than when she came to VCU in August of 2002. Coming to a new school as a freshman is hard enough for anyone, but Anger also had a barrier to break other than just winning over her new teammates – a language barrier.

Anger grew up in France playing soccer with her five brothers and two sisters. She was recruited by co-coaches Denise Schilte-Brown and Chris Brown and came to Richmond – as well as America – for the first time to start freshman year.

“There was a lot of excitement,” Anger said, referring to her time arriving at VCU. “I didn’t know where I was going.”

She admitted she didn’t know very much English and hadn’t been to many English speaking countries before she arrived here. However, in just over three years at VCU, she has picked up the language extremely well.

Anger was a force to be reckoned with in the 2004 season, scoring nine goals and assisting in nine goals as well, amassing 27 points in her junior year alone. Before Saturday’s exhibition game, she had started 60 games in her college career, second on the team only to senior Hedda Gardsjord (Oslo, Norway).

The Rams were 15-7 last year and Anger said the team wants to improve on their success. She said she knew her team had a lot of potential, and they wanted to focus on their home record, in which they were undefeated.

“It was our time to shine,” Anger said of last season. “Our goal this year is to reach the NCAA and go a bit farther.”

Anger was happy with the victory Saturday but also showed brief signs of disappointment when she referred to the two goals allowed by the Rams in the exhibition. She said she felt they did well in the first half in which they ended the period up five to zero, but said the level of play dropped a bit in the second half.

“When we play good teams this year we can’t have that happen,” she said. “We had a good first game, but we need to get better every game.”

Hoping to improve for the game at Virginia Tech Aug. 28, Anger commented on the young talent that the Rams have this year. Many freshmen made big contributions in the game, including Samara Stephen-Dowd, who scored a goal. She said the seniors on the team plan on helping lead the young players as well as the team to a very successful season.

“All the seniors have a great influence on the team,” Anger said. “I would say Woodie and I are more vocal. Everyone is real open and a big part of the team.”