After last weekend’s thrilling home win, the women’s soccer team had an opportunity to get a huge leg up in the CAA standings with two home matches against conference teams this weekend.
Unfortunately for the Rams, the weekend went by without a victory as they tied Georgia State Friday night and lost to UNC Wilmington on Sunday.
The Rams had many chances to get on the board Friday night, but could not capitalize in a scoreless draw with Georgia State.
Freshman Gabby Wilson (Woodbridge/Osbourn Park) had seven shots, four of which were on goal in the tie.
VCU moved to 5-4-2 and 1-1-1 in conference.
Sunday the Rams faced off with one of the hottest teams in the CAA: UNC Wilmington, who was coming wins over Old Dominion and James Madison.
This one did not go in the Rams’ favor either, as they lost 4-1.
“I think we were outfought, outworked,” coach Tiffany Roberts-Sahaydak said. “We just got to get better.”
The Seahawks did not take long to jump out to the lead on the Rams.
Just four minutes in, at the 41:07 mark, sophomore Kelly Dodd came streaking down the left side of the box and hit a brilliant cross to Erica Rodgers, who was wide open at the top.
Rodgers made good on the opportunity and placed a ball in the upper-left-hand corner of the goal.
Wilmington scored again in the half with just about 17 minutes left.
This time Megan Novak received a cross from Stephanie Rose and poked it past VCU keeper Kate Hudson (Clarksville, Md./University of Richmond).
The Seahawks continued their dominance on Sunday.
VCU pushed its streak to 155 consecutive minutes without a goal as the Seahawks’ defense kept them to only one shot on goal in the half.
The second half story was not too different from the first.
UNC Wilmington continued to dominate on the defensive side of the ball, and maintained possession for the majority of the time.
Wilmington capitalized on a VCU mistake as Rodgers received a lead pass into the box, beating the Ram defense.
Rodgers was fouled and received a penalty shot. She nailed the shot and put her team ahead 3-0 for her second goal of the season.
VCU finally broke through on the scoreboard with 7:07 left in the game.
Sophomore Heather Hovanesian (Centreville/Westfield) attempted a cross to Jasmine Riley (Arlington/Wakefield), but somehow found the back of the net.
The goal broke a streak of almost 183 minutes without a goal.
But the thrill of a goal was temporary as Wilmington took the ball right back down the field and scored on an Ashley Myers header.
Time ran out on the Rams and the scoreboard read 4-1.
“Today in the second half I think they lost their belief a little bit . It’s almost like they gave up, and I think when you give up it’s concerning,” Coach Roberts-Sahaydak said.
The loss is VCU’s first at home this season, and dropped the Rams to 5-5-2 and 1-2-1 in the conference.
The Rams face Drexel on the road on Friday.