Soares scores hat trick in 2-0 blowout against Vermont

Lizi Arbogast
Staff Writer

VCU freshman Emilie Soares had her most productive game to date, scoring three goals in a confident 4-0 shutout versus the Vermont Catamounts Sunday afternoon. Coming off a 4-2 win versus LaSalle, the VCU Rams looked confident throughout Sunday’s match-up.

“It was one of those games where … you almost didn’t want it to end because it was so exciting,” said Rams head coach Kelly McQuade. “We put together seventy minutes of really strong hockey, so it was really fun.”

The Rams came out strong in the first half, both offensively and defensively. It only took about twelve minutes for forward Emilie Soares to score her first goal of the game, off a pass up the middle by freshman Rymme van Dessel.
Just two minutes later, Rams captain Flore van Dessel had a nice chance at the goal, but the shot went off the post, keeping the score at 1-0.

The Vermont Catamounts had an offensive surge in the first half, but VCU keeper Erin Jablonski continued to protect the goal. The Rams were able to answer the Catamounts’ offensive surge with one of their own, resulting in a goal by midfielder Kelsey Scherrer assisted by Arialie Hess from the left side.

The Rams success continued with another goal up the middle by freshman Emilie Soares, which brought the score to 3-0, VCU and had another good look at the goal after a defensive corner, played in by defender Stephanie DeMasi to Arialie Hess, but the shot was blocked by Catamounts keeper Brooke Crane.

Heading into the second half, the Catamounts looked exhausted and spent most of the first ten minutes of the half in their defensive zone, but VCU was unable to capitalize on several shots.

Nearly halfway through the half, though, the Rams offense would be heard from again. Shortly after another defensive corner opportunity, Emilie Soares completed her hat trick after an assist by sophomores Chelsea Hill and Kelsey Scherrer, bringing the final score to 4-0.

Emilie Soares was proud of her play but said that she owed a lot of her success to her teammates.

“Since I’m a freshman, it was really nice [to score three goals],” said Soares. “But I think I was just in the right spot at the right time, and my teammates sent me, like, perfect balls … Friday we struggled a little bit, but today we came out as a team and played really well.”

Although Rams keeper Erin Jablonski had little to do with only one shot on goal by Vermont, she walked away with a win, bringing her personal record to 4-3.

The Rams will head into conference play next week. Coach Kelly McQuade is very happy to be going into conference play with a record of 5-3.

“Next week is definitely when the big guns start to happen,” said McQuade. “I think [our record] gives us the extra positives that we need, the extra confidence that we need and the motivation. I think that now they can see that it’s in their sights, and they continue to motivate themselves from there.”

The Rams will next head out on the road to play Deleware on Friday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.

—
Commonwealth Times Sports Twitter