Top 5 VCU women’s soccer games to look forward to this season

Bersabeh Kemaw, Contributing Writer

The women’s soccer team returns after ending the 2022 season with a record of eight wins, eight ties and three losses. They made it to the Atlantic 10 tournament, but their season came to an end after a loss against Saint Joseph’s University, according to VCU Athletics.

The black and gold return with junior forward Kanna Matsuhisa, redshirt senior midfielder Anna Bagley and sophomore midfielder Kendyl Sarver — all received an A-10 preseason all conference honors, according to BVM Sports.

Here are the top five matchups for VCU soccer fans to look forward to.

1. VCU vs. No. 11 Stanford University, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.

• A first timer in VCU school history, how will this go for the Rams, competing against a nationally ranked school?

The Rams will be hosting the Stanford University Cardinals, a team part of the non-conference schedule. The Cardinals are currently ranked at No. 4 in the country, according to Top Drawer Soccer.

They also won the Pacific-12 conference in 2022, with a total of 15 titles in program history, according to Go Stanford.

This will be a great opportunity for the black and gold to showcase their skills against a nationally ranked team.

2. Atlantic 10 Conference Opener — VCU vs. University of Richmond, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.

• Who will take the win in this cross-town rivalry?

This known rivalry amongst both schools will open up the A-10 conference play for the Rams.

VCU won the last matchup in 2022. They also have a three-game winning streak against the Spiders, according to VCU Athletics.

Fans of the black and gold should look forward to this crosstown rivalry game to open conference play.

3. Atlantic 10  — VCU vs. No. 21 Saint Louis University Billikens, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m.

• Will the black and gold be able to upset the A-10 champions?

The Billkens are the defending A-10 champions. They won their fifth straight A-10 championship last season. They have been voted as the preseason favorite to obtain this season’s championship as well, according to Atlantic 10.

Saint Louis will make a return with senior forward Caroline Kelly, who was named A-10 offensive player of the year, as well as senior goalkeeper Emily Puricelli, senior defender Lyndsey Heckel and graduate student midfielder Abbie Miller. They have all been named in the 2023 Hermann Trophy watch list, according to Atlantic 10.

Although the Rams were not able to come out with a win against the Billikens in their last match, they still have a chance this season.

4. Atlantic 10 — VCU vs. University of Dayton, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m.

• Will the Flyers bring an end to the Rams’ winning streak?

The Atlantic 10 voted the University of Dayton as the No. 2 most likely team to win the conference title, according to Atlantic 10.

Key players for the Flyers are fifth-year defensive duo Mackenzie Lutz, who was a 2022 first-team choice, and Alicia Donley, who will both be returning this season, according to Atlantic 10.

The black and gold defeated Dayton 2-1 last season, continuing their four-game winning streak.

5. VCU vs. University of Massachusetts, Sept. 21 at 3 p.m.

•  A streak cut short by a tie for the Rams, will they be able to reclaim it with a win?

The black and gold left the last matchup with a tie against Massachusetts, according to VCU Athletics.

The Rams have a slight advantage due to their record on the road against the Minutewomen is better than the record they have at home, according to VCU Athletics.

Prior to the tie, VCU had a three-game winning streak, which makes this a hopeful upset for the Rams.

The Rams have their sights set on winning a second championship this season. This team is a team to keep an eye out for as they fight to get back to the top of the A-10, according to VCU Athletics.

The Rams will play a home game against the Old Dominion University Monarchs on Aug. 24 at 6 p.m., at the Sports Backers Stadium.