Fall may not be back weather-wise as of yet however VCU Athletics is in full bloom with the 2019 Fall season well underway. The Black & Gold is hard at work in hopes of bringing home victories, championship silverware, and NCAA Tournament bids to RVA. Nonconference play is bringing the best out of some Ram squads while others are in a work-in-progress before Atlantic 10 play begins.
VCU Women’s Soccer: 4-1-1 Overall
Four straight wins out of the gates for VCU Women’ Soccer with 92-13 striking advantage has risen a couple of eyebrows in curiosity. Add that with a 0-0 draw at #25 Wake Forest and a 4-3 setback versus Old Dominion still has the Rams looking prime for conference play soon.
After six matches, the Rams scored 15 goals and registered 124 shot attempts while averaging 20.7 shots a game; their six opponents combined scored 6 times on 33 shot attempts. In short, VCU is not afraid to shoot with 10 goal scorers on that stat sheet. As the season goes, improvement on ball possession alongside their promising defensive line has VCU looking sharp under Head Coach Lindsey Martin.
Their A-10 schedule starts with a bang go up against Saint Louis and George Mason consecutively could give VCU some breathing room towards the conference title. It’s going to take a team effort for VCU Women’s Soccer to strive in the Fall and these Rams are already exceeding with a willingness for improvement.
VCU Men’s Soccer: 1-2 Overall
Head Coach Dave Giffard is mixing and matching amongst the Men’s Soccer squad to figure out that winning formula towards a probable NCAA Tournament bid. Don’t be blinded by the 1-2 record too much; there’s plenty of talent on the pitch capable of getting results.
VCU was selected first in the 2019 A-10 preseason poll with 159 points and 8 first-place votes edging Saint Louis and Rhode Island. Freshman Maverick McGann scored VCU’s only goal of the season as a substitute in a 1-0 win vs. ETSU. Early season trials have not gone the Rams’ way with a defeat down to 10 men versus LIU and a loss to NJIT in overtime.
There are limited opportunities on the road for the Black & Gold to land that resume-building win. The Rams have UCF, ODU, Coastal Carolina, and Akron just to name a couple of possible statement victories depending on the result. Building from their defense in the back and upfield is going to take VCU time and unfortunately, the Rams don’t have enough to fix all the kinks. The determination, fight, and will is present but can VCU get the results? We shall see.
VCU Volleyball: 4-3 Overall
Amongst Classics and Invitational play, VCU Volleyball is prepping against a variety of opponents. Things didn’t go well at the Sports Imports Classic with a lone win versus Lehigh; the VCU Invitational inside the Siegel Center flipped the script with VCU going 3-1 over the weekend.
The Rams defeated High Point, N.C. State, and Alabama in a 5 set showcase. VCU nearly went 4-0 but UC Santa Barbara escaped with the win in 5 sets. Head coach Jody Rogers feels confident about her VCU squad this season returning 5 starters including Jasmin Sneed who recently broke the VCU career blocks record versus HPU.
On their calendar remains key matches against Wichita State, BYU, and North Carolina before A-10 play gets started. The one date that’s is circled multiple times in red is November 17th. That is when VCU faces Dayton on the road in their season finale. And if history repeats itself, the A-10 title will be on the line. Prepare accordingly VCU.
VCU Field Hockey: 1-2 Overall
A rollercoaster type of start for VCU Field Hockey as the Rams hit a bump on the road then started to go uphill before the drop. Both defeats were by one lone goal including the Bucknell game that resulted in double overtime heartbreak 2-1 at home.
The results of the 3 consecutive local derbies (vs. William & Mary, vs. Old Dominion, at Richmond) is a Black & Gold preview of how 2019 could go for VCU. A 3-for-3 showcase puts the Rams into conference play deserving of their 2nd place preseason ranking right behind A-10’s field hockey jewel in Saint Joseph’s.
Even with the loss of playmaker Emily McNamara graduating, VCU remains capable of scoring thanks to Litiana Field and the Sturm sisters. The sticks are getting warm for goals and assists that VCU is banking on results towards a run against the Hawks for the A-10 crown in the later months.
Check out the Black & Gold in person from Cary Street Field, Sports Backers Stadium, and the Siegel Center! Tune in to VCUSports.com for updates on everything VCU and follow the Rams on Twitter on their championship hunts during the Fall!
