The shot by Yael Averbuch that beat goalkeeper Emily
Niman (Pittsburgh/Fox Chapel Area) to the top left
corner of the net gave the University of North Carolina a
1-0 advantage in the 16th minute Friday night at Sports
Backers Stadium.
The 25-yard kick proved to be all the No. 2 Tar Heels
would need to upend the Rams, who dropped their third
match of the season in a 4-0 fi nal.
UNC managed to grab another fi rst-half tally on a
header to the bottom right corner by Casey Nogueira, off
a setup from a goal-line feed by Nikki Washington.
The Rams were then able to apply some of their
best pressure of the night as June Hartman (Virginia
Beach/Tallwood) and Stephanie Power (Dartmouth, Nova
Scotia/Dartmouth) combined for three shots on goal,
plus a corner kick from Megan Flanagan (Franktown,
Colo./Ponderosa) in less than a minute.
“I thought we came out with passion, heart and
confi dence,” Hartman said.
VCU managed to match UNC’s intensity early on but
eventually succumbed to the Tar Heels’ deeper bench and
more experienced roster. The second half saw the Rams
appear fatigued as they struggled to apply pressure in
the offensive zone. As a result, the Tar Heels picked up
two more goals en route to victory.
UNC’s third goal came on another header, this time
by Allie Long from 8 yards out, assisted by Tobin Heath.
The Tar Heels continued to push, resulting in Jaime
Gilbert scoring the night’s fi nal goal off the rebound of
her own missed shot.
The loss marked the fourth time the Rams have been
shut out thus far this season.
The black and gold was hoping to use the tournament
as a way to measure where it stands against some of the
best competition in the nation.
“It was a good test to see where we are as a team and
how we can get better,” co-head coach
Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. “It was
a great challenge.”
Playing a school that has won 18
national championships serves as a useful
learning tool for an up-and-coming
program.
“I’m sure every player out on the
field tonight learned what it takes to be
the best,” co-head coach Tim Sahaydak
said.
Both coaches starred for UNC’s
storied soccer program in the mid-‘90s
before going on to succeed with national
and professional squads.
The Rams relied on the hardiest of
fans to come out and sport their black
and gold, despite poor weather.
“It was huge to know that we had
dedicated fans that sat in the stands
while it poured for 90 minutes,” Hartman said.
In game two of the tournament,
played Sunday, Hartman scored three
second-half goals to lead the Rams to
a 3-0 decision over Navy.
Hartman is the first VCU player to
get a hat trick since Solfrid Andersen
scored four goals in a 5-1 victory over
Charlotte on Sept. 5, 2004.
“It was extraordinary. I think she
wants to be extraordinary. She plays
with heart, determination, she’s mentally
tough and she makes things
happen,” said Roberts Sahaydak.
Despite making several good runs,
neither team could strike in the first
half. The Rams had six shots on goal and
three corner kicks while Navy had four
and three in the first frame. VCU had a
chance to score early on a loose ball in
the box, but a Midshipmen defender was
able to clear the ball before it crossed
the goal line.
The second half, however, belonged
to Hartman. The forward, who saw
little action last season as a reserve,
scored her first goal in the 51st minute
after a corner kick by Megan Flanagan.
Myriam Bouchard headed Flanagan’s
kick toward the goal and Hartman
finished it with a header to the bottom
right corner of the net. Hartman’s second
goal came in the 80th minute off a chip
from Laurel Pastor. Pastor’s assist wasn’t
perfect, but Hartman took advantage of
a lackadaisical defense and punched the
ball into the top left corner of the net
from 10 yards out.
“Our coaches always tell us never
to assume … I just kept running, and
the defense stopped, thinking the goalkeeper
was going to get it. I just never
assumed, and I went and it worked out,”
Hartman said of the second goal.
The third and final goal came just
four minutes later in the 84th minute
when Hartman took a ball down the
sideline. Navy’s goalie was far out of
the box, and the sophomore was able
to send one in on the ground from 15
yards out.
With the win, the Rams improve their
record to 2-3-1 and next face cross-town
rival Richmond on Thursday. However,
Roberts Sahaydak thinks there is more
work to be done.
“I think every game you play leads in
to the next … but even though we won
3-0, I don’t think the girls are happy
with a full 90 (minute) performance,”
she said. “I think we had some good
individual efforts today, but as a team,
we could get better.