Defense gets offensive in women’s soccer’s win over William & Mary

Scott Wyant
Staff Writer
Commonwealth Times Sports’ Twitter

The age-old phrase “defense wins championships” has been the basis of the VCU women’s soccer team this season, and it has never been more prevalent than Sunday afternoon’s contest versus William & Mary.

The Rams always-staunch defense has kept them in games this season from the beginning.

Early in the season they just couldn’t find the back of the net, going 2-5-1 during their out-of-conference slate and averaging just one goal per game while being shut-out four times in that span.

Now that the defense has become even more dominant, the defensive mentality and the back-line have led to the team’s success.

“Our back four plus Kristin Carden is so solid. Carol Sanchez provides such great cover for her teammates being as fast as she is. It’s really hard to get by her,” co-head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. “And if they do it past her, then you have Kristin Carden in the goal. It’s a great back four who play very well together. They’re a very tight group defensively, and with (Carden) in the goal, they’re very good.”

Coming off a blowout win Friday night over arch-rival ODU, the Rams knew William & Mary would be a much tougher opponent.

The Tribe came in to the Sunday afternoon contest undefeated in the CAA at 9-0-0 and a ranking of No. 18 in the country. They also boasted a dominant offense, scoring 45 goals and holding opponents to just 12 goals in 18 games.

Early on the Rams and Tribe battled back and forth, each dictating the pace and possession of the game.

Then the Rams found a way to find the back of the net in the 32nd minute, when first-half substitute and sophomore Taryn Cressy sent a cross in from well outside of the box and found the foot of sophomore forward Courtney Conrad who flicked it past William & Mary goalkeeper Katherine Yount.

VCU almost tallied four minutes later when the Rams crashed the Tribe goal mouth with a Sanchez shot being just pushed wide.

In the second half, William & Mary came out determined to answer, moving the crafty left back Diana Wigel into the midfield in order to create more opportunities.

But the Rams stood tall on the back of their defense and their determination to make it to postseason play.

Throughout the second period, the Tribe created many chances, but they never truly threatened the former All-ACC goalkeeper Carden.

Until the 73rd minute, that is. The Tribe earned a free kick just in front of the VCU bench, and a W&M defender lined up the kick and whipped it into the box and found forward Dani Rutter flicking it towards the goal. But as with all other William & Mary chances, Carden gobbled it up with ease.

The Rams were almost able to ice away the victory just nine minutes later when Cristin Granados blasted her free kick off the William & Mary wall and ricocheted to the sure-footed Meaghan Dullea. Dullea ripped the shot far post, and Yount was able to grab it away.

With the win, VCU locks up a spot in the CAA Tournament and a chance to clinch second place in the conference and a bye into the semifinals.

“Things are clicking for sure. I am really proud of this team, and more than anything we are a team,” Sahaydak said. “We fight for each other. They’re very committed to our game plan, and they’re just a great team, and they do it together, and I think that’s what can separate us from the other teams. They know how important these last games are for us to get into the conference tournament.”

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Photo by: Kyle Laferriere