Soccer: women roll, men flop in home openers

Oodles of first half goals helped VCU women’s soccer in a 5-0 whopping at home against American University. 

The game was decided in a rousing 70-second span in a first half where the Rams managed a awe-inspiring 18 shots.

Sophomore midfielder Alyssa Tallent started the scoring in the 11th minute with a goal from a corner kick. Junior forward Kelly Graves doubled the scoring within 56 seconds when she latched onto a rebound from a saved effort from junior midfielder Maddi Santo. 14 seconds later, Tallent found freshman midfielder Kimberly Ito in the six-yard-box, who put the shot away to make the score 3-0.

In the 37th minute, senior defender Megan Dell made it four when she deflected a shot following a corner kick by junior midfielder Julia Suarez.

Suarez added a goal of her own in the 41st minute when Gutzmer slid a pass to the Woodbridge native in the six-yard-box.

The Rams added six shots in the second half but failed to convert on any attempts. It was the Black and Gold’s second clean sheet of the season.

Tredway brace helps VCU women’s soccer seal victory against ODU

Women’s soccer found a hero in Thursday night’s home opener which ended in a 3-1 win against Old Dominion University.

Redshirt sophomore Amanda Tredway scored two goals on either side of a goal by freshman midfielder Lyndsey Gutzmer — including one late in the second half — to ease the pressure on the Rams after ODU cut VCU’s 2-0 halftime lead in half.

“My emotions are high and the team is behind me,” Tredway said after the game. “Getting in the right areas and getting goals makes you want to get more.”

Minutes after putting a shot just wide of goal early in the first half, Gutzmer was back on offense — this time with end product as she tucked a shot into the lower left-hand corner from an assist from sophomore defender Susann Friedrichs.

The Monarchs were still reckoning with the punch when the Rams doubled their lead about 90 seconds later as Tredway was sent clean through by a pass from Alyssa Tallent. The forward calmly put the ball away in the near post.

ODU struggled to play out of their own half for much of the first period as the Rams dominated possession and the stats sheet. Suarez couldn’t manage to put a shot past ODU’s senior goalkeeper Krista Moisio with minutes remaining in the half.

It was a different story in the second half. The Monarchs fought back to get on the score sheet and finally found the back of the net when ODU sophomore Gaby Bentley was put clean on goal and tucked the shot into the far post with 12 minutes remaining.

Ram fans were left on the edge of their seat when Old Dominion nearly tied it up when their forward, redshirt sophomore Madison Hogan, had an effort saved VCU’s goalkeeper, redshirt junior Audrey Sanderson.

The ensuing corner was put just wide by ODU redshirt sophomore Niki Malancone to cap off a nervy series for the Rams.

With four minutes remaining, Tredway scored her second of the night after Tallent put her through on a one-on-one.

“We knew it was going to be tough. It was a really close game,” VCU coach Lindsey Martin said after the game. “Hopefully we can keep this train rolling. We’re ready for what comes our way.”

The Rams will stay home for a match against American University on Sunday.

Men’s soccer lets two-goal lead slip in stunning home opening defeat

It was a tale of two halves when men’s soccer opened their season against Oakland University — one to remember and another to forget.

Redshirt senior midfielder Francesco Amorosino opened the scoring for the Rams with an assist from redshirt junior Eli Lockaby in just two minutes. Senior midfielder Raphael Andrade Santos doubled the scoring with a blistering free kick from just outside the box just more than 20 minutes later.

It was not to be for the Rams, however, as Oakland mounted a comeback with 10 minutes left in the first half. The Golden Grizzlies were awarded a penalty kick when VCU sophomore Austin Graham tackled an Oakland player in the box. The Grizzlies converted to cut VCU’s lead in half.

The Rams dominated possession in the first half and headed into the break with a one-goal lead. The Grizzlies flipped the script in the second half, however, taking the brunt of opportunities on goal.

Oakland redshirt senior Keenan King equalized in the 66th minute with a shot from outside the box that curled past the VCU keeper. Minutes later, redshirt sophomore Nebojsa Popovic scored another for Oakland to give the Michigan team the lead.

The Rams played Appalachian State University on Sunday night, the game’s result was not available at press time.

Fadel Allassan
Contributing Writer