After a win Friday night over UNC Wilmington, the Rams followed
a similar script Sunday afternoon versus the Georgia State Panthers.
The end result was another shutout victory – this time 3-0.
Each goalkeeper saw very little action in the first half. Both VCU
and Georgia State managed just one shot on goal through the first 45
minutes of play. VCU’s 12 shots overshadowed the five that Georgia
State mustered, but both teams struggled to connect on open shots.
Freshman Laurel Pastor (Springfield/West Springfield) found herself
in isolation on the wing with Panther defenders on several occasions,
only to have her crossing set-ups deflected by goalkeeper Heidi
Blankenship in the goal box.
Both teams watched their shots get stonewalled before the ball could
make its way inside the penalty zone. If the shots weren’t blocked, they
soared high or wide off the pipes. The difference between a shutout
and a blowout was slim.
Halftime saw the conference foes enter the locker room tied 0-0.
In a move reminiscent of the U.S. women’s team in this year’s FIFA
World Cup, Georgia State head coach Domenic Martelli relieved
a freshman, for veteran senior Megan
Macdonald.
Macdonald successfully saved the
first two shots she faced on goal to
preserve the shutout and appeared to
be on top of her game.
That was until sophomore Myriam
Bouchard (Quebec, Canada/Cardinal
Roy) netted the first goal of the
afternoon on a 10-yard header to the
upper left side of the goal off a corner
kick in the 64th minute.
The goals were piled on from
that point. Senior Brittain Maas
(McLean/McLean) again connected
on a corner kick, this time assisting
Stephanie Power’s (Dartmouth, Nova
Scotia/Dartmouth) header from 15
yards out. It was Power’s second goal
of the season and provided insurance
for VCU with just six minutes remaining.
Power appeared to injure her
head while scoring and remained on
the ground for several moments but
was able to stay on the field for the
completion of the match.
With the 2-0 advantage, the Rams
continued to be aggressive through
the final minute. Jasmine Riley
(Arlington/Wakefield) tallied her
second goal of the weekend with
just 36 seconds on the clock. June
Hartman (Virginia Beach/Tallwood)
was credited with her second assist of
the season after feeding the crossing
pass to Riley from the left side from
15 yards outside the net.
All three goals were against Macdonald
after she was inserted into the
lineup at halftime.
The Rams continued their impressive
streak of defensive play during
the win. Senior goalkeeper Emily
Niman (Pittsburgh/Fox Chapel Area)
notched her sixth shutout this season
by coming up with three saves. All
five of VCU’s victories, as well as its
tie, have come by virtue of a shutout.
Its overall record transcends the .500-
mark for the first time this season,
improving to 5-4-1 overall and 2-0
in CAA action. The Rams move on to
play at Delaware in conference play
on Friday night.