Sports briefs
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
The Rams finished 10th out of 16 teams this past weekend at the George Mason Invite. The six-kilometer race was run on the same course that will host the CAA championship meet next month. Freshman Heather DelaCruz (Williamsburg/Lafayette) led VCU with a time of 23:45, good for 41st-place finish.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
The Rams finished 10th out of 16 teams this past weekend at the George Mason Invite. The six-kilometer race was run on the same course that will host the CAA championship meet next month. Freshman Heather DelaCruz (Williamsburg/Lafayette) led VCU with a time of 23:45, good for 41st-place finish. Samantha Hendel (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Oceanside) also finished in the top-60, placing 53rd with a time of 24:13.
FIELD HOCKEY
The Rams dropped their third straight overtime game Friday night, 3-2 to Hofstra. Marle van Dessel (Oisterwijk, The Netherlands/Odulphus Lyceum) opened the scoring with a goal in the 25th minute, but Hofstra answered with an equalizer in the 33rd minute. However, Marle’s sister Flore (Oisterwijk, The Netherlands/Odulphus Lyceum) gave VCU the lead back in the 40th minute with a goal on a penalty stroke. The lead would be the last for VCU as the Pride scored in the 56th minute, then 10 minutes into overtime.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
The Rams’ unbeaten streak was snapped Sunday after a 3-1 loss on the road at UNC Wilmington. The streak had been pushed to six games after a 1-0 victory over Georgia State on Friday. Laurel Pastor (Springfield/West Springfield) opened the scoring against the Seahawks, putting a shot from the top of the box in the lower left corner in the 23rd minute. However, Wilmington answered with all three of their goals in the second half to take the win. Against the Panthers, Samara Stephen-Dowd (Vienna/Oakton) knocked in a loose ball in the 28th minute and Kali Van Covren (Waynesboro/Waynesboro) made five saves in goal to ensure the win. VCU is now 2-1-1 in conference and 6-5-1 overall.
VOLLEYBALL
The Rams won a pair of conference road games this past weekend, defeating both Towson and Delaware 3-1. VCU’s record is now 2-1 in the CAA and 10-6 overall. VCU dropped the first set against Towson 25-23, but won the next three 25-9, 31-29 and 25-17. Laryssa Goncalves (Curitiba, Brazil/Colegio Dom Brazil) had 17 digs and Ivana Rich (Cumberland/Cumberland) had 11 kills in the win. Against Delaware, VCU won the first two sets 25-18 and 25-11, lost the third 25-20, but won the fourth and decisive set 25-19. Elisa Kuehnel (Dresden, Germany/Sportsgymnasium) registered 15 kills in the victory.