It seems the VCU field hockey program has come a long way since one of its worst regular season win-loss totals in history. After a difficult 2008, the Rams have made a sudden turn around with a 4-1 start to the season.
“I think this year has a different feel than the last two years . The talent level across the board has improved 100 percent,” VCU coach Kelly McQuade said.
The climax of this five game stretch came with the biggest victory in the program’s history, when the Rams beat Iowa, the 17th ranked team in the country last week. The Hawkeyes were a national semi-finalist last season and are a national powerhouse program.
But thanks to a late goal by freshman Kelsey Scherrer (Chesapeake), the Rams were able to stun the Hawkeyes.
“It was so exciting; I was set up pretty nicely . I just happened to be in the right place at the right time,” Scherrer said.
The win over Iowa is not the only reason heads are turning on Cary Street Field this season.
Not only has VCU not played a home game this season, but the bulk of their roster is made up of eight freshman and three sophomores..
Scherrer, a freshman, is leading the team in scoring and has won the CAA Rookie of the Week Award twice.
“I feel like we step on the field knowing what has to be done, everybody is on the same page and we all know what we want,” Scherrer said. “It doesn’t matter (if the player is a) senior or freshman-You don’t play as a freshman, you play as a member of the team.”
Another freshman, goalkeeper Megan Botteri (Mount Bethel, Pa.) has only allowed eight goals, good for second in the CAA, and more importantly has allowed VCU to outscore its opponents 13-8 this season.
“The entire freshman class coming in I think is exceptionally strong and I think we push the team to do better,” Botteri said.
For the Rams, it is their best start since 2004, when the team started 4-1 and finished 10-10.
To put that mark in perspective, VCU coach Kelly McQuade was playing for William & Mary that season.
Despite the good start, McQuade said there is still a lot of work to be done to see VCU continue to compete.
“We have to stay strong mentally and focus . It is just a matter of making sure that everyone is staying on the same page on gameday,” McQuade said.
The Rams take on Monmouth in their home opener at Cary Street Field this Sunday at 1 p.m.