Wednesday, October 28th, 2026

Sports

VCU women’s soccer snaps losing streak in scoreless draw against Loyola Chicago in home finale

October 28, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU women’s soccer tied 0-0 against Loyola University Chicago and snapped their six-game losing streak on Sunday at the VCU Athletic Village in the Rams’ final home game of the season. The Rams battled Loyola Chicago through a back-and-forth contest, with both teams finding opportunities in the midfield but struggling to turn their attacking runs into goals. Fourth-year goalkeeper Mia Pongratz helped preserve the draw with four saves, posting her second shutout of the season. The performance brought her career total to 119 saves, moving her into 10th place in VCU women’s soccer program history. “It just means a lot to me that I was able to give a lot back to a program that’s given so much to me these past four years,” Pongratz said. “I’m very, very proud to do it with this team too.” Loyola Chicago tested Pongratz early, forcing a save in the fourth minute. The Ramblers outshot VCU 8-5 in the first half, but the Rams held firm defensively to enter the break scoreless. VCU found more success in creating opportunities after halftime, putting three shots on goal in the final 10 minutes. However, fourth-year Loyola Chicago goalkeeper Allison Deardorff kept

VCU field hockey falls in penalty shootout

October 28, 2026

Drew Clements, Staff Writer After 75 minutes of scoreless field hockey, VCU lost to St. Joseph’s University in penalties Friday at Cary St. Field, dropping their record to 8-8 on the season. Throughout the first quarter, both teams exchanged shot attempts, although each side struggled to create open opportunities. Third-year goalkeeper Emma Clements set the tone for the game, fighting off early pressure from St. Joe’s.  Clements’ performance for the Rams stood out, making several diving blocks and kick-saves throughout the game to keep the score knotted. VCU head coach Stacey Bean applauded the performance in goal. “I thought our penalty corner defense was outstanding today, led by Emma in goal there,” Bean said. “But we’ve gotta find a way to put a little bit of pressure on the opponent and earn a corner ourselves.” The game was even throughout the first half and into the second, even after VCU second-year Emily Foerster was forced out for 10 minutes with a yellow card. After four quarters with no goals, the game went into overtime. St. Joe’s was aggressive and earned multiple penalty corners, but neither team managed to break the tie. Third-year Cameron Butler said the Rams stayed resilient and

VCU comes up short in final non-conference matchup

October 21, 2026

Ben Martindale, Sports Editor VCU women’s field hockey lost a hard-fought matchup to the University of Delaware on Sunday at Cary St. Field. The Rams entered the matchup having won three of their last four, including a 4-3 victory vs. Davidson College two days prior to Sunday’s matchup. The first quarter was competitive, with neither team able to punch in the opening goal. Delaware nearly broke the tie a minute and a half into the second quarter, ricocheting a shot off the upper right corner of the goal, but after review, the goal was waived off and the score remained tied at zero. The Blue Hens nearly scored again with eight minutes remaining in the quarter, but a diving save from third-year VCU goalkeeper Emma Clements foiled the Delaware attempt. Delaware’s attack-first style paid off when second-year Amanda Rattay scored to give the Blue Hens the lead. VCU started the second half with more energy and quickly put Delaware on the defensive. Three minutes later, VCU first-year Julia Spohr scored a goal of their own, evening the score at one goal apiece. In the final quarter, the two teams refused to give an inch to the other, both squads getting

Thriller finish: VCU bests Loyola University Chicago 1-0

October 14, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU men’s soccer defeated Loyola University Chicago 1-0 on Saturday at the VCU Athletic Village, scoring with one second remaining in regulation to secure their first win at the new facility. The Rams have dealt with persistent injuries throughout the season. VCU entered Saturday looking to build momentum in its final Atlantic 10 matchups while managing a depleted roster. Both teams struggled to generate scoring opportunities in a defense-heavy first half. VCU recorded one shot on goal and Loyola had two. Fourth-year goalkeeper Trevor Maloney made two saves in the opening 15 minutes to keep the match scoreless at halftime. In the 52nd minute, first-year midfielder Bya Ndimubandi received a second yellow card and was sent off, forcing VCU to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match. Despite the disadvantage, VCU continued to hold off Loyola’s attack. The Ramblers outshot the Rams 20-10, but Maloney finished with three saves to earn his first shutout of the season. With the clock winding down, VCU found one final opportunity. Third-year defender Nikita Hayes sent a ball into the top of the six-yard box, where first-year midfielder Esteban Vasquez finished with a one-touch shot to score

VCU men’s soccer ties 1-1 against George Washington, injuries continue

October 14, 2026

Chase Berman, Contributing Writer  The VCU men’s soccer team tied 1-1 against The George Washington University on Wednesday. The Rams are now 1-7-3 for the regular season. The energy was high throughout the game. The Rams led possession throughout most of the first half, but a series of bad turnovers led to the Revolutionaries fighting back. However, neither team was able to score in the first half. The second half saw more action and physicality. Fourth-year midfielder Andrey Salmeron scored his first goal of the season less than five minutes into the second half, but the Revolutionaries quickly tied the game with a goal from first-year forward Tommaso Lami. Overall, the Rams outshot the Revolutionaries 15 to 11. These shots on goal have been a major focus of VCU head coach Dave Gifford. “It’s a game of percentages and odds, right,” Giffard said. “You have seven or eight chances that could have been goals and you get one. If that number is 25 or 30 chances…you probably get three or four and you’re really comfortable.”   Third-year midfielder Mohammed Ibrahim, who contributed an assist, and Salmeron both stressed the importance of maintaining a positive outlook. “We always have to keep that

VCU field hockey locks down the win in high scoring affair

October 14, 2026

Drew Clements, Contributing Writer  VCU field hockey defeated Lock Haven University 5-2 on Friday afternoon at Cary St. Field, improving to 7-5 on the season. VCU took an aggressive approach, launching several shots on target in the first few minutes and staying on the attack. With 7 minutes left in the first quarter, second-year Hannah Zimmerman struck first, scoring off a pass from third-year Lucia Donati. “When I’m in the middle, everyone just knows their job,” Zimmerman said. “The left knows her job, the right knows her job, the middle knows her job, so just following through is what I’m supposed to be doing.” Lock Haven responded quickly, drawing back to back penalty corners and scoring on the second attempt to tie things up 1-1 at the end of the first quarter. VCU stayed on the attack into the second quarter, applying pressure and forcing multiple saves by Lock Haven. With just 35 seconds left in the second quarter, VCU struck again, with first-year Julia Spohr scoring unassisted to take a 2-1 lead into the half. VCU kept the pressure up into the second half, attempting multiple shots on goal. Lock Haven responded with a penalty corner, but VCU secured

VCU falls to La Salle in hard fought game

October 14, 2026

Devynn Alston, Staff Writer VCU women’s soccer fell to La Salle University 5-2 on Sunday afternoon, as the Explorers’ early scoring and second-half offense proved to be too much for the Rams to overcome.  La Salle graduate student forward Justyce Hollenbach scored within the first 10 minutes of the match, before finding the back of the net again during the 20th minute to give the Explorers an early 2-0 lead.  VCU responded four minutes later when third-year midfielder Shiori Shintaku scored, cutting La Salle’s lead to 2-1. However, the Explorers regained their two-goal advantage at the 40-minute mark when third-year forward/midfielder Alexis Garcia scored, seeing La Salle go into the half with a 3-1 lead.  Even though they trailed, the Rams recorded five shots during the first half, with three being on target. However, VCU struggled to turn its possessions into consistent scoring opportunities.  “We really did have control a lot of the game, but then we just couldn’t get that final shot off,” VCU head coach Lauryn Hutchinson said.  VCU came out amped after halftime, as fourth-year forward Jazmin Jackson scored in the opening minute of the second half to cut the deficit to 3-2. The goal marked Jackson’s

VCU women’s soccer snaps losing streak in scoreless draw against Loyola Chicago in home finale

October 28, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU women’s soccer tied 0-0 against Loyola University Chicago and snapped their six-game losing streak on Sunday at the VCU Athletic Village in the Rams’ final home game of the season. The Rams battled Loyola Chicago through a back-and-forth contest, with both teams finding opportunities in the midfield but struggling to turn their attacking runs into goals. Fourth-year goalkeeper Mia Pongratz helped preserve the draw with four saves, posting her second shutout of the season. The performance brought her career total to 119 saves, moving her into 10th place in VCU women’s soccer program history. “It just means a lot to me that I was able to give a lot back to a program that’s given so much to me these past four years,” Pongratz said. “I’m very, very proud to do it with this team too.” Loyola Chicago tested Pongratz early, forcing a save in the fourth minute. The Ramblers outshot VCU 8-5 in the first half, but the Rams held firm defensively to enter the break scoreless. VCU found more success in creating opportunities after halftime, putting three shots on goal in the final 10 minutes. However, fourth-year Loyola Chicago goalkeeper Allison Deardorff kept the Rams off the scoreboard with four second-half saves. The match all came down to the dramatic 90th minute when Loyola Chicago was awarded a penalty kick following a video review. The Ramblers attempt sailed wide, allowing VCU to stave off a loss in their home finale. VCU head coach Laryn Hutchinson said the team’s defensive adjustments played an important role in the result. VCU switched to a 5-4-1 formation to counter Loyola Chicago’s speed on the wings, a change Hutchinson said worked well for the Rams and one that will continue to be worked on in the upcoming offseason.  “It did work today for us,” Hutchinson said. “It’s definitely something to look forward to for the future.” As the season approaches its conclusion, Pongratz said the team has emphasized enjoying their remaining moments together, particularly for the senior class. “Don’t take any moment for granted because it really just goes by in a flash,” Pongratz said. The Rams will close out their season on the road against Dayton at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.

VCU field hockey falls in penalty shootout

October 28, 2026

Drew Clements, Staff Writer After 75 minutes of scoreless field hockey, VCU lost to St. Joseph’s University in penalties Friday at Cary St. Field, dropping their record to 8-8 on the season. Throughout the first quarter, both teams exchanged shot attempts, although each side struggled to create open opportunities. Third-year goalkeeper Emma Clements set the tone for the game, fighting off early pressure from St. Joe’s.  Clements’ performance for the Rams stood out, making several diving blocks and kick-saves throughout the game to keep the score knotted. VCU head coach Stacey Bean applauded the performance in goal. “I thought our penalty corner defense was outstanding today, led by Emma in goal there,” Bean said. “But we’ve gotta find a way to put a little bit of pressure on the opponent and earn a corner ourselves.” The game was even throughout the first half and into the second, even after VCU second-year Emily Foerster was forced out for 10 minutes with a yellow card. After four quarters with no goals, the game went into overtime. St. Joe’s was aggressive and earned multiple penalty corners, but neither team managed to break the tie. Third-year Cameron Butler said the Rams stayed resilient and

VCU comes up short in final non-conference matchup

October 21, 2026

Ben Martindale, Sports Editor VCU women’s field hockey lost a hard-fought matchup to the University of Delaware on Sunday at Cary St. Field. The Rams entered the matchup having won three of their last four, including a 4-3 victory vs. Davidson College two days prior to Sunday’s matchup. The first quarter was competitive, with neither team able to punch in the opening goal. Delaware nearly broke the tie a minute and a half into the second quarter, ricocheting a shot off the upper right corner of the goal, but after review, the goal was waived off and the score remained tied at zero. The Blue Hens nearly scored again with eight minutes remaining in the quarter, but a diving save from third-year VCU goalkeeper Emma Clements foiled the Delaware attempt. Delaware’s attack-first style paid off when second-year Amanda Rattay scored to give the Blue Hens the lead. VCU started the second half with more energy and quickly put Delaware on the defensive. Three minutes later, VCU first-year Julia Spohr scored a goal of their own, evening the score at one goal apiece. In the final quarter, the two teams refused to give an inch to the other, both squads getting

Thriller finish: VCU bests Loyola University Chicago 1-0

October 14, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU men’s soccer defeated Loyola University Chicago 1-0 on Saturday at the VCU Athletic Village, scoring with one second remaining in regulation to secure their first win at the new facility. The Rams have dealt with persistent injuries throughout the season. VCU entered Saturday looking to build momentum in its final Atlantic 10 matchups while managing a depleted roster. Both teams struggled to generate scoring opportunities in a defense-heavy first half. VCU recorded one shot on goal and Loyola had two. Fourth-year goalkeeper Trevor Maloney made two saves in the opening 15 minutes to keep the match scoreless at halftime. In the 52nd minute, first-year midfielder Bya Ndimubandi received a second yellow card and was sent off, forcing VCU to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match. Despite the disadvantage, VCU continued to hold off Loyola’s attack. The Ramblers outshot the Rams 20-10, but Maloney finished with three saves to earn his first shutout of the season. With the clock winding down, VCU found one final opportunity. Third-year defender Nikita Hayes sent a ball into the top of the six-yard box, where first-year midfielder Esteban Vasquez finished with a one-touch shot to score

VCU men’s soccer ties 1-1 against George Washington, injuries continue

Sports Editor October 14, 2026

Chase Berman, Contributing Writer  The VCU men’s soccer team tied 1-1 against The George Washington University on Wednesday. The Rams are now 1-7-3 for the regular season. The energy was high throughout the game. The Rams led possession throughout most of the first half, but a series of bad turnovers led to the Revolutionaries fighting back. However, neither team was able to score in the first half. The second half saw more action and physicality. Fourth-year midfielder Andrey Salmeron scored his first goal of the season less than five minutes into the second half, but the Revolutionaries quickly tied the game with a goal from first-year forward Tommaso Lami. Overall, the Rams outshot the Revolutionaries 15 to 11. These shots on goal have been a major focus of VCU head coach Dave Gifford. “It’s a game of percentages and odds, right,” Giffard said. “You have seven or eight chances that could have been goals and you get one. If that number is 25 or 30 chances…you probably get three or four and you’re really comfortable.”   Third-year midfielder Mohammed Ibrahim, who contributed an assist, and Salmeron both stressed the importance of maintaining a positive outlook. “We always have to keep that

VCU field hockey locks down the win in high scoring affair

Sports Editor October 14, 2026

Drew Clements, Contributing Writer  VCU field hockey defeated Lock Haven University 5-2 on Friday afternoon at Cary St. Field, improving to 7-5 on the season. VCU took an aggressive approach, launching several shots on target in the first few minutes and staying on the attack. With 7 minutes left in the first quarter, second-year Hannah Zimmerman struck first, scoring off a pass from third-year Lucia Donati. “When I’m in the middle, everyone just knows their job,” Zimmerman said. “The left knows her job, the right knows her job, the middle knows her job, so just following through is what I’m supposed to be doing.” Lock Haven responded quickly, drawing back to back penalty corners and scoring on the second attempt to tie things up 1-1 at the end of the first quarter. VCU stayed on the attack into the second quarter, applying pressure and forcing multiple saves by Lock Haven. With just 35 seconds left in the second quarter, VCU struck again, with first-year Julia Spohr scoring unassisted to take a 2-1 lead into the half. VCU kept the pressure up into the second half, attempting multiple shots on goal. Lock Haven responded with a penalty corner, but VCU secured

VCU falls to La Salle in hard fought game

Sports Editor October 14, 2026

Devynn Alston, Staff Writer VCU women’s soccer fell to La Salle University 5-2 on Sunday afternoon, as the Explorers’ early scoring and second-half offense proved to be too much for the Rams to overcome.  La Salle graduate student forward Justyce Hollenbach scored within the first 10 minutes of the match, before finding the back of the net again during the 20th minute to give the Explorers an early 2-0 lead.  VCU responded four minutes later when third-year midfielder Shiori Shintaku scored, cutting La Salle’s lead to 2-1. However, the Explorers regained their two-goal advantage at the 40-minute mark when third-year forward/midfielder Alexis Garcia scored, seeing La Salle go into the half with a 3-1 lead.  Even though they trailed, the Rams recorded five shots during the first half, with three being on target. However, VCU struggled to turn its possessions into consistent scoring opportunities.  “We really did have control a lot of the game, but then we just couldn’t get that final shot off,” VCU head coach Lauryn Hutchinson said.  VCU came out amped after halftime, as fourth-year forward Jazmin Jackson scored in the opening minute of the second half to cut the deficit to 3-2. The goal marked Jackson’s

VCU men’s soccer ties 1-1 against George Washington, injuries continue

October 14, 2026

Chase Berman, Contributing Writer  The VCU men’s soccer team tied 1-1 against The George Washington University on Wednesday. The Rams are now 1-7-3 for the regular season. The energy was high throughout the game. The Rams led possession throughout most of the first half, but a series of bad turnovers led to the Revolutionaries fighting back. However, neither team was able to score in the first half. The second half saw more action and physicality. Fourth-year midfielder Andrey Salmeron scored his first goal of the season less than five minutes into the second half, but the Revolutionaries quickly tied the game with a goal from first-year forward Tommaso Lami. Overall, the Rams outshot the Revolutionaries 15 to 11. These shots on goal have been a major focus of VCU head coach Dave Gifford. “It’s a game of percentages and odds, right,” Giffard said. “You have seven or eight chances that could have been goals and you get one. If that number is 25 or 30 chances…you probably get three or four and you’re really comfortable.”   Third-year midfielder Mohammed Ibrahim, who contributed an assist, and Salmeron both stressed the importance of maintaining a positive outlook. “We always have to keep that

VCU field hockey locks down the win in high scoring affair

October 14, 2026

Drew Clements, Contributing Writer  VCU field hockey defeated Lock Haven University 5-2 on Friday afternoon at Cary St. Field, improving to 7-5 on the season. VCU took an aggressive approach, launching several shots on target in the first few minutes and staying on the attack. With 7 minutes left in the first quarter, second-year Hannah Zimmerman struck first, scoring off a pass from third-year Lucia Donati. “When I’m in the middle, everyone just knows their job,” Zimmerman said. “The left knows her job, the right knows her job, the middle knows her job, so just following through is what I’m supposed to be doing.” Lock Haven responded quickly, drawing back to back penalty corners and scoring on the second attempt to tie things up 1-1 at the end of the first quarter. VCU stayed on the attack into the second quarter, applying pressure and forcing multiple saves by Lock Haven. With just 35 seconds left in the second quarter, VCU struck again, with first-year Julia Spohr scoring unassisted to take a 2-1 lead into the half. VCU kept the pressure up into the second half, attempting multiple shots on goal. Lock Haven responded with a penalty corner, but VCU secured

VCU falls to La Salle in hard fought game

October 14, 2026

Devynn Alston, Staff Writer VCU women’s soccer fell to La Salle University 5-2 on Sunday afternoon, as the Explorers’ early scoring and second-half offense proved to be too much for the Rams to overcome.  La Salle graduate student forward Justyce Hollenbach scored within the first 10 minutes of the match, before finding the back of the net again during the 20th minute to give the Explorers an early 2-0 lead.  VCU responded four minutes later when third-year midfielder Shiori Shintaku scored, cutting La Salle’s lead to 2-1. However, the Explorers regained their two-goal advantage at the 40-minute mark when third-year forward/midfielder Alexis Garcia scored, seeing La Salle go into the half with a 3-1 lead.  Even though they trailed, the Rams recorded five shots during the first half, with three being on target. However, VCU struggled to turn its possessions into consistent scoring opportunities.  “We really did have control a lot of the game, but then we just couldn’t get that final shot off,” VCU head coach Lauryn Hutchinson said.  VCU came out amped after halftime, as fourth-year forward Jazmin Jackson scored in the opening minute of the second half to cut the deficit to 3-2. The goal marked Jackson’s

From top recruit to Ram: An exclusive inside look with Sammy Jackson

October 7, 2026

Tyrese Perkins, Assistant Sports Editor  First-year guard Sammy Jackson is stepping into a new chapter at VCU. Wearing the black and gold may feel like a fresh start, but producing at a high level on the court is second nature.  Ranked No. 86 on the 2026 SportCenter Next 100, the 6-foot-7 prospect comes to VCU with a unique blend of size and skill at the guard position. While many know Jackson from his time playing at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia, his basketball journey began much earlier. “I actually didn’t grow up in Philadelphia,” Jackson said. “I grew up in Tampa, Florida and then we moved to Philly when I was 12.” Jackson said his early childhood in Tampa contributed to the lasting presence basketball has had within his life.  “We had a full-court [basketball court] in the backyard,” Jackson said. “My dad used to play in the NBA and my brothers play basketball too, so basketball has always been around me. But one day I picked up a basketball and really worked out for the first time with my dad, and then I knew that I wanted to do this for real.” Jackson said the realization went beyond

VCU falls to GWU in second game of weekend series

October 7, 2026

Ben Martindale, Sports Editor VCU women’s volleyball lost 3-0 in the second match of a weekend series against The George Washington University on Saturday. According to VCU third-year setter Casin Sendir, today just was not their day. “We didn’t show up with our game,” Sendir said. “It was not our game and everyone was aware of that and we couldn’t play together.” The loss comes after the Rams won the first game of the series comfortably, 3-0. Kills from VCU third-years, middle blocker Letizia Galli and outside hitter Lara Del Core, gave the Rams a quick lead out of the gates. GWU responded by scoring twice to tie the set. The two teams remained knotted up for the next few minutes, going back and forth with neither team able to extend their lead past two points. The Rams put together their best run of the first set, scoring three points in a row to give them a 15-12 lead, but just as they had throughout the set, the Revolutionaries responded with a 3-point run of their own to tie the match at 15. GWU used their momentum to extend the lead to 18-16, forcing a VCU timeout. The Rams came

Black and Gold game gives first look at new VCU men’s basketball roster

October 4, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU men’s basketball gave fans their first look at a significantly different roster during the annual Black and Gold scrimmage on a rainy Sunday at the Siegel Center. The scrimmage marked the beginning of the Rams’ 2026-27 season after VCU went 28-8 last season, won its second consecutive Atlantic 10 championship and made NCAA Tournament history with a 19-point comeback against North Carolina in the first round. With seven players departing, including last season’s leading scorer third-year guard Terrence Hill Jr., who transferred to Tennessee, VCU will have to rely on returning players taking on larger roles and seven newcomers to make their mark. The first four-minute period showed an immediate emphasis on defense. Both teams frequently applied full-court pressure, allowing them to create turnovers and opportunities in transition. Second-year guard Nyk Lewis led his team offensively while also positively impacting the game with his playmaking abilities. The offense became more fluid as the scrimmage continued. Sammy Jackson, a 6-foot-7 first-year wing from Philadelphia, began heating up in the second period, knocking down difficult shots and helping the Gold team build a lead. Jackson finished 4-for-9 from the field on the day. Jackson is one of

VCU beats GWU in first game of weekend series

October 4, 2026

Drew Clements, Contributing Writer VCU volleyball pulled off a decisive 3-0 victory over The George Washington University at the Siegel Center Friday night, improving to 4-7 on the season.  The first set went back and forth, with VCU jumping out to an early 15-10 lead, only for GW to tie it up and keep the score close throughout the set. Third-year outside hitter Lara Del Core and fourth-year middle blocker Nina Boledovicova landed kills to help VCU secure the early lead.  “I think we’re really good at finding our identity right now and how we want to play as a team,” Boledovicova said. “For me it’s easy to really kill the ball if the ball is right there.” GW led for most of the second set, taking a lead back whenever VCU tied things up. Third-year MB Letizia Galli led the team with 5 blocks and kept VCU close with several key blocks throughout the set.  “I really take my position as middle blocker very seriously,” Galli said. “I try to be useful any way I can.”  Down 22-18, VCU charged back to tie at 24-24 and won the set 27-25 a few serves later.  “The difference maker was the