“Fun in the Sun” is a common saying when good times are rolling. Whether on the beach, a backyard BBQ or even a field hockey game, everything is smooth sailing when having fun. VCU did just that against Richmond which was party time for the home team at Cary Street Field.
But We Just Got Here!
Shannon Pereira did not take long to get the Black & Gold party started. Just under two minutes into the game, Litiana Field found Pereira on the assist for the opening goal. Emily McNamara doubled VCU’s lead in the 6th minute with her 10th goal of the season.
Trailing 0-2 early, Richmond had to muster a response. With VCU’s sticks taking shot after shot, the Spiders were stuck in defense until they made their move. Elise Zwicklbauer spun an unexpected shot past Sasha Elliott to pull Richmond within a goal in the 14th minute. The Spiders tasted blood and began attacking VCU’s goal with aggression down 1-2.
Spiders Score, Then VCU Responds.
That equalizer arrived in the 18th minute. Hannah Loos scored her first goal of the season for the Spiders and tied the game at 2-2. Fans of the Rams were stunned at Cary Street Field and Richmond celebrated proudly while VCU worked towards an answer.
The party vibes started to reappear once the Rams recollected themselves. Jannie Wetzel alongside Field and McNamara took VCU by the horns and attacked the Spiders. Field collected her second assist of the day when she sent the ball to Maite Sturm in the 24th minute. A wind-up and a smack was all Strum needed to put VCU back into the lead and score her third goal of the year.
More Goals Please? Well Since You Asked…
Emily McNamara added a second VCU goal in the 30th minute. Svea Strum moved the ball towards goal on the right wing. McNamara made her move inside and Strum found her target directly in front of the goal. Laughs and smiles all around Cary Street with the Black & Gold up 4-2 in the first half against their in-state rival.
A half with 6 goals scored is quite the act to follow. There were some goals left to feast on in the 2nd half for VCU. In the 42nd minute, VCU earned a penalty stroke after Richmond was whistled for the foul inside the box. Maite Strum took the chance and finished successfully to put the Rams up three goals.
No More For You Spiders!
Richmond was forced into defensive mode with their offense only having 2 shots in the 2nd half. VCU registered 13 shots against the Spiders in the last 35 minutes of the contest. McNamara created another opportunity in the 52nd minute with a pass in front of goal that Emily van Hijfte tapped in the back post.
Just as the party was about to wind down, McNamara would turn up the jams in celebration of her third consecutive hat-trick. VCU brought the ball upfield in the 66th minute led by van Hijfte who struck a near perfect pass behind Richmond’s defense. McNamara got to it and knocked in her 12th goal of the season as the game’s exclamation point.
VCU stayed perfect in Atlantic 10 Play with a 7-2 victory over Richmond. The Rams improve to 2-0 in A-10 play and 4-3 overall on a 3 game winning streak. Next up for VCU Field Hockey is a road test at #11 Old Dominion on Sunday, September 23rd. Game time begins at 1 PM.
