VCU suffers loss to Old Dominion

Andrew McGhan, Contributing Writer

VCU women’s soccer lost 2-0 in a game against Old Dominion University on Thursday.

 The score does not reflect how hard both teams played, it was a back and forth game where both teams had multiple chances to score.

This matchup is the 12th time VCU has played Old Dominion dating back to 2010, according to VCU Athletics. The record between these two programs coming into Thursday’s match was nine wins, one tie and one loss with VCU having won nine games.

VCU head coach Lindsey Martin said she is aware of the record, but she doesn’t really pay attention to it because the teams change every year.

“By no means are they the same ODU team that they were even last year or the year before, but they’re a good program, and they’ve been growing the past couple years in the right direction,” Martin said. 

The tactic coming into Thursday’s game was to pressure the opposing players into making mistakes for VCU to start a counterattack, according to Martin. 

“We wanted to make sure we played our style, we wanted to high press, we wanted to exploit the channels, we knew that they’d be coming out in a 3-5-2,” Martin said.

The first half was a stalemate with both teams playing hard and creating great chances to score. 

ODU started a counterattack up the left side of the field towards the end of the half and ODU freshman forward Aleigha Arndt shot the ball on the left side of the box. VCU senior goalie Stevie Mika made a save and the rebound went to ODU sophomore midfielder Thalia Morisi, who scored and brought the score to 1-0.

The team continued to play hard even after being down 1-0 at half time, according to VCU junior defender Isidora Gajdobranski. 

“Personally, it really sucks giving up that goal, but on the other hand, our team fought really well and we were proud,” Gajdobranski said. “We created really good chances.” 

VCU made adjustments at halftime so their players could be aware of ODU’s use of open space to pass the ball and to make sure their players fought for second chance balls, according to Martin.

“ODU is looking to play very direct, and we’re looking to put balls on top of our center backs,” Martin said. “See if they can either get in behind or see if they can pick up the first or second ball.”

The team did a great job of picking up on those tactics in the second half, according to Martin.

“I felt like our kids did a good job of making those adjustments and more mental than physical of being aware of the opportunities that they were trying to create,” Martin said.

VCU also subbed out Mika for fellow VCU junior goalie Allison Karpovich; they have been changing goalkeepers at halftime since the start of preseason, according to Martin. Martin said the team feels that both keepers are good and is having a hard time deciding who should be the number one goalkeeper.

“They’ve been neck and neck and neither of them have shown to be out doing the other one at this point in time,” Martin said. “So we’re still looking to see if there’s gonna be a true number one and if they’re gonna both be number ones, then we’ll continue to split.” 

The second half was more or less the same as the first with both teams playing hard. VCU kept exploiting channels successfully in the ODU defense and creating good chances to score on the right side of the field with crossing the ball or cutting into the defense.

On counterattacks VCU junior midfielder Kanna Matsuhisa would try to cross the ball into areas where her teammates could score. 

“I try to cross the ball between goalie and defensive line or if I notice my outside back and center back I cut and try to be closing,” Matsuhisa said.

ODU scored off a counterattack making the score 2-0 during the second half.

VCU was given a penalty and ODU’s junior goalkeeper Emily Bredek saved VCU redshirt senior midfielder Anna Bagley’s shot.

Martin said she thought that VCU couldn’t finish their opportunities to score. She gave credit to Bredek for having a great game.

“Today we were a bit unlucky at times with some of the saves their goalkeeper made were just absolutely tremendous,” Martin said.