VCU field hockey goes 1-for-2 at Sports- Backers
VCU field hockey was victorious on Sept. 8 against Central Michigan University and was defeated by Ohio University on Sept. 6.
Spencer Tossone, Alexis Albright and Kendall Farino celebrate a goal Central Michigan University. photo by pilar curtis
Zachary Joacham
Contributing writer
VCU field hockey was victorious on Sept. 8 against Central Michigan University and was defeated by Ohio University on Sept. 6.
Ohio got on the board in the 6th minute to take an early 1-0 lead off a corner-kick. Freshman Emily McNamara evened things up for the Rams in the 16th minute off an assist by sophomore midfielder Spencer Tossone. The tie would hold through halftime, as both defenses buckled down and scoring chances became scarce.
Ohio opened the second half aggressively, putting the VCU backline on its heels. Goals in the 38th and 42nd minute put the Bobcats up 3-1 before OU’s relentless attack toned down and the pace of the match remained conservative. The damage was already done and the Rams fell 3-2 to the Bobcats in a heated back and forth affair.
On Friday night, VCU defeated CMU 3-1 in its home opener at Cary Street Field. Chippewa sophomore Maria Russel scored her team-leading 3rd goal of the season. The Rams fought back, enjoying the majority of possession for the remainder of the match. Sophomore Jamee Albright cut the lead in half in the 60th minute by putting home a rebound off a save by Ohio goalkeeper Lina Trucco. Trucco would later seal the deal in the 70th minute with an athletic save on a shot headed for the corner of the cage by senior midfielder Taleah Scott.
The Rams opened play on their home turf on a solid note, holding the majority of possession and outshooting out-of-conference foe CMU 12-0 in the first half.
Scott, an Australian transfer, looked to put VCU up early in the 5th minute with a powerful shot off a corner that went wide. The constant pressure eventually broke the Chippewa defense in the 14th minute when Emily McNamara put a beautiful assist from junior Kaylee Maunz in the back of the cage.
Down 1-0 coming out of halftime, CMU flipped the script and took control in the second half. After taking four of the first five shots, Kady Gurtis tied the game at 1-1 in the 47th minute. VCU responded with a flurry of possessions facilitated between McNamara and senior Kendall Farino. The midfield duo worked with twin forwards Jamee and Alexis Albright to regain control of the game. A. Albright put away a feed into the box from Farino to retake the lead in the 59th minute. Three minutes later, McNamara would find Scott for her first goal of the season off a scramble in front of the net, giving the Rams a 3-1 cushion and the match.
VCU’s first home-stand of the year forecasts a promising season to come. The pair of inter-conference matches provides an accurate idea of the competition ahead for the lady Rams.
Next up is a weekend road trip in which VCU will travel to face out of conference foes Georgetown University and James Madison University before returning to conference play in Richmond against Pacific University Friday, Sept. 18th.