Tyrese Perkins, Assistant Sports Editor
The VCU women’s soccer team fell 2-0 to crosstown rival the University of Richmond Spiders on Thursday, as an impressive defensive performance by the Spiders was too much for the Rams to overcome.
Despite an aggressive second-half effort and multiple well-placed shots on goal, the Rams were unable to find the back of the net.
The match got off to a fast-paced, physical start with both teams battling for early possession. Richmond opened up the scoring in the 15th minute when third-year midfielder Paige West finished a right-footed shot into the bottom center of the net.
VCU looked for an immediate response, but fouls and stoppages disrupted the Rams’ momentum. VCU fourth-year goalkeeper Mia Pongratz delivered a big moment in the 44th minute, diving to save a low strike from Richmond’s third-year Sophia Jurado and keep VCU within striking distance heading into halftime.
To start the second half, the Rams made adjustments and quickly picked up their momentum. Third-year forward Kate Weyer nearly leveled the match off a 47th-minute corner kick, launching a shot toward the top right corner that required a high-handed save from Richmond second-year goalkeeper Isabel Seifert.
To start the half, substitutions provided an energetic spark for the Rams, particularly through second-year forward Isabelle Franklin. Franklin consistently pressured the Spiders’ back line, testing Richmond second-year goalkeeper Isabel Seifert with a shot on goal attempt in the 49th minute and another just minutes later.
“I think it was just finding the pockets in between their line of defense, especially in between the center backs,” Franklin said. “That’s why I was able to get the slip balls and make runs that way.
In the 57th minute, UR second-year forward Emma Newman picked up space near the top of the box and curled a right-footed strike into the top right corner, making it 2-0.
Unfazed by the two-goal deficit, the Rams still pushed forward in a relentless attempt to mount a comeback. Fourth-year forward Ishpreen Marwah spearheaded the attack after the second goal, forcing back-to-back saves from Richmond’s third-year goalkeeper Veronica Rrapi in the 58th minute.
Defensively, first-year defender Taleah James and the Rams defended heavy pressure from the Spiders, despite the 2-0 deficit.
“I think we were well prepared for their long balls, we always had each other’s back with the coverage,” James said. “We adjusted very well, and we communicated well with the switches, so it helped us out a lot.”
James added that the team focused on staying positive when Richmond scored.
“We just uplifted each other, we tried to keep our heads held high, and we encouraged each other to keep pushing forward,” James said. “Despite mistakes, we let it go and we keep going.”
Franklin created one final drive in the 85th minute with a strike aimed toward the left post, but Rrapi batted the ball away to secure the 2-0 win for the Spiders.
“I think the biggest thing is our principle-based things, so challenging for air balls, if we don’t win the first ball, winning the second, or are we trying to win the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh,” Hutchinson said. “It’s those things that we’re going to really harp on… and that’s what we’re going to do for the last two games.”