Rams clip the Seahawks’ wings, 3-0

Hayden Braun, Contributing writer

VCU women’s soccer won their first game of the season against the University of North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks, 3-0, on Sept. 12.

VCU played aggressively on offense and maintained strong defense, relentlessly pressuring UNC and never giving them a moment to breathe.

Though VCU was never able to score in the first half, they put plenty of shots up.

Both teams exchanged shots on goal and penalties alike. VCU outshot UNC six to four, and UNC had five fouls to VCU’s three. 

The score was tied at 0-0 going into halftime. Fourth-year midfielder Kanna Matsuhisa had two out of the team’s six total shots during the first half.

VCU head coach Lindsey Martin said she thought the Rams were nervous throughout the first half. 

“It just feels like in the first half, there was still just some nervousness, some anxiety, some reluctance to really just play the way we’re capable of playing,” Martin said. 

VCU entered the second half appearing completely in sync, a vast difference to their first-half performance.

“I think the second half we made some tactical adjustments, but most importantly, we just talked about going after it and getting stuck into tackles and going forward and taking players on, and that’s what our kids did,” Martin said. 

VCU fifth-year forward Milica Bulatovic and third-year midfielder Y-Van Nguyen got into a head-on collision while both going for a header at the beginning of the second half. Both players walked to the sideline but ended up uninjured. 

Bulatovic came back into the game and scored a header goal off of a free kick at the 64-minute mark, according to StatBroadcast. 

This goal was assisted by fourth-year midfielder Greta Kraszula, and was Bulatovic’s first goal of the season, according to VCU Athletics. 

“Despite the results before, we’ve been playing better and better. So obviously just to be rewarded for that effort is amazing. We felt like we were all 100% on the field,” Bulatovic said. “I’m just so blessed to get a goal and just contribute to our team winning.”

Matsuhisa scored two goals and four shots, according to StatBroadcast. Her first goal of the night was from a penalty kick, and her second was off a break in the defense, leaving her to a one-on-one with UNC’s goalie.

“In the first half, we failed to score, but I remained determined to find the net myself. Sometimes, being selfish is necessary to make a strong impact,” Matsuhisa said.

Matsuhisa and Bulatovic’s goals were all scored within seven minutes.

VCU fourth-year goalkeeper Allison Karpovich had nine saves and allowed zero goals, according to StatBroadcast.

The UNCW Seahawks had a total of 14 shots on goal, not making a single one due to VCU’s defense and goalkeeping. 

“We knew it was our time. We’ve been putting in so much work and so much time to get better. We just had to get it,” Karpovich said. 

VCU head coach Lindsey Martin said she was happy for the team after their first win of the season. 

“I’m just happy for our kids. We played well throughout the first six games leading up to today, but we hadn’t seen any favorable results,” Martin said. 

The stadium that night was packed with fans screaming and cheering the black and gold on. 

“We love being at home, especially on Thursday nights. There’s certainly a different vibe, a different atmosphere. You know, whenever we’re playing under the lights on a Thursday night, I think that’s when typically our kids play their best soccer,” Martin said. 

VCU will face Davidson College on Thursday, Sept. 19 at Alumni Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m.