Pastor’s two goals bless VCU with win

Sophomore Laurel Pastor (Springfield/West Springfield) scored two goals in VCU’s 2-1 overtime victory against Delaware this past Sunday. The victory improved the Rams’ season record to 8-5-1 and 4-1-1 in the CAA.

VCU started out fast, in the beginning of the first half, The Rams applied pressure to the defense of Delaware. In the first four minutes of the game, VCU attempted two shots but they were both saved by Delaware’s goalkeeper. In the 17th minute, great passing allowed Pastor to score her first goal of the game. Junior June Hartman (Virginia Beach/Tallwood) passed the ball to senior Megan Flanagan (Franktown, Colo./Ponderosa) in the corner of the field. Flanagan then crossed the ball in front of the net to Pastor. Pastor knocked the ball down and kicked it high into the net over the goalkeeper to give the Rams a 1-0 lead.

“I saw Flanagan beating the outside player and she was yelling at me to get in the box and then she crossed it and then I shot it,” Pastor said.

After Pastor’s goal both teams took turns applying pressure to the opposing defense and missed on several scoring opportunities. The first half ended with VCU leading 1-0.

In the second half, Delaware turned up the defensive pressure on VCU and the pressure started to get to the Rams.

“I felt a lot more double teaming pressure and they were on us harder and faster from behind,” Pastor said.

The pressure allowed Delaware’s Stacie Dulikis to score a goal in the 53rd minute to tie the game at 1-1. Dulkis took a hard shot from the top right corner of the box to give the Blue Hens their only goal of the game.

After the Delaware goal, both defenses kept the opposition off the scoreboard, but Delaware missed a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 89th minute. Delaware’s Caitlyn Germain had a shot right in front of the net with only the goalkeeper to beat, but her shot went wide and regulation ended in a 1-1 tie.

VCU dominated Delaware in overtime. The Rams controlled the ball for most of the period and used offensive pressure to win the game. Five minutes into overtime, Flanagan passed the ball down the right sideline. Pastor beat her defender to the ball and shot the ball from about 15 yards out and scored the game-winning goal in the left side of the net to give VCU the 2-1 win.

“Flanagan looked up and yelled go and so I kept running,” Pastor said.

Pastor’s two goals in the game gave her three for the weekend as she scored the only goal in the win against Drexel Friday.

“I feel happy. I feel lucky to get the opportunities from my teammates,” she said.