Rams mid-season review

Women’s soccer

VCU’s Sports Backers Stadium should have a sign outside that tells opponents that they have little chance at winning in the venue.

In fact no team has ever beaten the Rams at Sports Backers Stadium. The Rams finished 11-0-0 last season at the stadium and have not lost a home game since 2003. This season has taken the same form for the Rams, who have won all three of their games this season at home, including a 2-1 victory over Colonial Athletic Conference rival James Madison.

Only the University of Nevada-Las Vegas was able to muster a tie against the Rams at home.

All three of the Rams’ losses have come in tournaments this season, including two 1-0 defeats in the Oregon State Invitational.

Sandra Anger (Cuguen, France), 2004 CAA player of the year and tournament MVP, will look to have the same success this year as she did during last season’s title run.

Pernilla Jansson (Enebyberg, Sweden) leads the team with four goals, including both goals in a win over cross-town rival University of Richmond in the Rams’ most recent game.

Leigh Anthony (Fairfax, Va.), who tallied the game-winning goal against James Madison, leads the team with two assists.

The Rams have 10 games left in the regular season, all against CAA opponents. Then the conference tournament begins.

-Compiled by Philip J. Bogenberger

Men’s soccer

After winning three Colonial Athletic Association titles, the Rams men’s soccer team was predicted to continue its dominance coming into the season. But due to a tough schedule against strong teams, including the University of Maryland, University of Virginia and University of North Carolina, VCU has been unable to fulfill such lofty expectations.

The Rams started out the season at home with a loss to UNC, who is currently ranked second in the nation. The Rams exhibited strong defense but fell 1-0.

Two days later, VCU rebounded against Monmouth University, winning 3-1. Veit Schaidinger (Regensburg, Germany) led the offensive flurry by scoring two goals.

Brian Morris (Springfield) and Matthijs Maruanaya (Alkmaar, Netherlands) have also had two-goal games. Morris leads the team with three goals.

The Rams have struggled away from home, however, losing all five contests this season. But the team won two of their three games at home.

The Rams open the CAA regular season with games at George Mason University and at home against Towson University this weekend.

All of their 11 remaining games are against conference opponents. Despite the slow start, the Rams have an opportunity to regain the glory they have achieved in seasons past.

-Compiled by Philip J. Bogenberger and Weston Reeves

Volleyball

After only a month of the regular season, the volleyball team has made tremendous strides from last year.

The Rams (7-8) have already surpassed their six-win total from last season, won the VCU Third Degree Sportswear Invitational and senior Griselle Lopez Pereira (Caguas, Puerto Rico) broke Cindy O’Brien’s school record for digs.

One reason for the Rams’ success is first-year coach James Finley. Finley came to VCU from Arizona Western College where he led the team to four straight National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association Region I Division Championship.

But Finley was not the only person to move from Yuma, Ariz. to Richmond. Renata Salvatori (Londrina, Brazil), Melissa Peterson (Ganado, Arizona) and Ludmilla Francescatto (Fralburga, Brazil) followed their coach to be part of the Rams.

After sweeping three games in the early-season tournament at the Siegel Center, the Rams dropped three of four games on a trip to Kansas.

They also had a five-game losing streak at one point, but seemed to right the ship with a 3-1 win at Northeastern, which was their first win in the Colonial Athletic Association.

The Rams have an important stretch of matches ahead.

Six of their next seven contests are conference matches and the Rams will have to play six games in a row in October.

-Compiled by Philip J. Bogenberger

Field hockey

Early in the season the field hockey team looked like the squad that was predicted to finish near the bottom of the standings.

One reason for the slow start is that the Rams are a young team. They have nine freshmen on the roster and, due to injuries, six of them were on the field at one time.

It’s hard to win when a team has not had time to mesh with each other.

The Rams, however, have meshed well lately, winning three of four games at one point, including a four-goal output against Yale University.

Captain Ashley Cadwallader (Fairfax/Fairfax High School) controls the middle of the field and propels the VCU attack.

Freshman forward Nikki Lloyd (Kent, England) leads the team with three goals and seven points. Another freshman forward who has provided offense is Heather McCannon (Lanexa/Lafayette High School). Her two goals proved to be the game-winners in consecutive games against Yale and Radford University.

The Rams defense is anchored by captains Tara Worley (Sufflok/Lakeland High School) and Alyssa Collis (Kaleden, British Columbia), who have helped the Rams register two shutouts this season.

Upcoming games will likely be a challenge for the Rams since the Colonial Athletic Conference is one of the toughest in the nation.

In a five-day span, the Rams will have to play against former national champions James Madison University and Old Dominion University.

-Compiled by Philip J. Bogenberger