Field hockey wins sixth in-a-row

Adam Cheek

Contributing Writer

VCU field hockey (8-1) swept the week’s two games, pulling off wins against Lock Haven University and Central Michigan University. The Black and Gold required overtime to emerge victorious over LHU by a score of 2-0. The Rams outscored CMU 4-3 to take down the Chippewas. VCU extended their winning streak to six games and tallied their third shutout of the season.

Central Michigan

The Rams took down the Chippewas on Sunday at home, shutting out Central Michigan by a score of 2-0.

Racking up their third shutout of the season, and winning their sixth match in a row, the Black and Gold scored one goal in each of the two halves. Senior midfielder Spencer Tossone and junior forward Lauren Kaup were the heroes, with Kaup scoring her first goal of the season and notching five shots, including three on goal.

Tossone scored her goal in the 19th minute, while Kaup immediately answered a save of her 44th minute shot with a goal. Junior forward Emily McNamara and senior defenseman Natalie Bohmke added one assist apiece, with Bohmke helping to limit Central Michigan to three shots.

VCU led the Chippewas by 20 shots, outshooting them 23-3 and 15-2 in shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper Chessa Kownurko earned a shutout, saving the only two shots on goal that she faced.

Lock Haven

Friday’s game against Lock Haven ended in a 2-1 VCU victory, with VCU needing overtime to finish off the Bald Eagles and extend their winning streak to five games.

Lock Haven notched their first shot on goal in the 21st minute off of a penalty corner, but the shot went wide. After the relatively uneventful first half, with the score still a stalemate at 0-0, Lock Haven opened the scoring with a goal less than two minutes into the second half.

McNamara provided the Rams with their first goal of the game in the 46th minute off a penalty corner.

After McNamara tied the game, the Black and Gold scored their second goal in overtime in the 84th minute, courtesy of Bohmke. Earning a penalty stroke, Bohmke delivered to give VCU the victory with her first goal of the season.

In addition to her score, McNamara also tallied 12 shots, including five on target, and Tossone added two shots and an assist.

Kownurko also made three saves on the four shots that she saw. VCU led 13-4 in penalty corners.

Field hockey will be back in action next Friday and Sunday. They will face Saint Joseph’s University on Friday, Sept. 29, and will play Appalachian State University on Sunday, Oct. 1. Friday’s game against the Hawks will begin at 3:00 pm, while Sunday’s match against the Mountaineers will begin at 1:00 pm, with VCU looking to extend its winning streak to seven and eight games. The Rams have already surpassed their win total from last season.