Women's Soccer Picked Fourth in Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll


RICHMOND, Va. – Following a run to the Colonial Athletic Association Championship match a season ago, the VCU Women's Soccer team is poised for yet another strong campaign. The Rams will look to make noise in their first season in the Atlantic 10 this fall after being selected to finish fourth in the league's preseason coaches' poll.

The Black & Gold was picked behind defending A-10 champion Dayton, which returns eight of 11 starters from last year's 19-win season. Cross-town rival Richmond and La Salle, which posted the conference's top two regular season records in 2011, were picked second and third, respectively.

VCU returns several key players from last year's squad, including their top two goal scorers with junior Courtney Conrad and reigning CAA Rookie of the Year Cristin Granados. The duo combined for 12 goals and 27 points, and was responsible for five of the team's nine game-winning scores.

2012 A-10 Women's Soccer Predicted Order of Finish (2011 record)

1. Dayton (19-4-0, 7-2-0 A-10)
2. Richmond (13-5-3, 7-1-1 A-10)
3. La Salle (15-2-3, 7-0-2 A-10)
4. VCU (9-8-4, 6-2-3 CAA)
5. UMASS (14-5-2, 6-2-1 A-10)
6. Charlotte (7-10-4, 4-4-1 A-10)
7. St. Bonaventure (9-7-4, 4-2-3 A-10)
8. Fordham (8-8-3, 3-4-2 A-10)
9. Saint Louis (5-10-3, 3-5-1 A-10)
10. Butler (8-10-2, 3-5-0 Horizon)
11. Xavier (7-8-3, 2-5-2 A-10)
12. Rhode Island (7-10-2, 2-6-1 A-10)
13. Saint Joseph's (7-7-5, 2-4-3 A-10)
14. George Washington (5-12-2, 2-5-2 A-10)
15. Duquesne (3-14-1, 2-7-0, A-10)
16. Temple (5-12-1, 2-6-1, A-10)

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VCU Battles James Madison to 1-1 Draw in Exhibition Match
VCU STARTERS:
#18 E. Kruse (GK), #2 J. Krasko, #5 G. Wilson, #6 B. White, #7 B. Kunz, #8 C. Conrad, #10 T. Cressy, #12 C. Edgcomb, #15 B. Moore, #16 L. Hutchinson, #20 W. Acosta

JAMES MADISON STARTERS:
#1 K. Courter (GK), #2 K. Menzie, #3 M. Brown, #6 L. Wilson, #10 K. Kerrigan, #12 T. Naquin, #13 E. Halik, #15 K. Germain, #17 H. Miller, #24 A. Clayton, #26 I. Chang

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Women's Soccer Player to Watch:
Courtney Conrad
By Andrew Phillips

RICHMOND, Va. - The first time VCU Women's Soccer co-head coaches Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak and Tim Sahaydak saw Courtney Conrad, she was still playing soccer at the youth level in Canada.

Now, years later, Conrad is a junior on the Sahaydak's team at VCU. Although the story, so far, seems like any other college recruiting story, it's not.

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VCU Women's Soccer Introduces Seven New Faces This Fall


RICHMOND, Va. – With the VCU Women's Soccer team set to open the 2012 campaign Friday night against High Point, we give Ram fans a quick look at the new faces they'll see this season.

Joining the Rams this fall
midfielders:
Elora Frye (Yorktown, Va./Grafton), Olivia Defelice (Trenton Falls, N.J./Red Bank Catholic), Brianna Nielsen (Vienna, Va./McLean),

forward:
Kailyn Slade (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge)

defenders:
Wendy Acosta (San Jose, Costa Rica), Natalie Moik (Cologne, Germany)

goalkeeper:
Emma Kruse (Woodbridge, Va./Forest Park).

"We are very happy with the way the new group of players has been integrating with our core of returners. We have certainly strengthened our roster and look forward to the impact some players will make immediately," Co-Head Coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said.

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VCU Cruises to 3-0 Win at Longwood, Posts Ninth Shutout in Last 12 Games


We're happy with the result against a strong Longwood team tonight. The Longwood players worked hard for 90 minutes and fought until the end. I'm proud of how we came out in the second half after a slow start to the match. We came out with an attacking mentality and finished some of our chances. We also had great performances from the players coming off the bench. Overall, it was a positive night for the team and we look forward to going to Tennessee this coming weekend."
-VCU Co-Head Coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak

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Kruse Named Atlantic 10 Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week

RICHMOND, Va. – After graduating high school, VCU redshirt freshman goalkeeper Emma Kruse decided not to pursue an athletic career, and would instead focus on academics. But soon after arriving on campus last fall, she missed sports way too much.

Now, a year later, and with two collegiate starts under her belt, Kruse has quietly made a name herself. On Monday, she earned Atlantic 10 Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week honors.

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HOW IT HAPPENED:

William & Mary (6-3-0) wasted little time getting on the attack as Emory Camper fired a pair of shots in the second minute. The first attempt was blocked and the second was saved by VCU senior goalkeeper Kristin Carden.

The Tribe continued to pressure and got on the board five minutes later. Cortlyn Bristol sent a ball into the box and Nicole Baxter was able to slip shot past Carden for an early 1-0 lead.

VCU (4-2-3) fired three shots during a six-minute stretch beginning in the 23rd minute, but was unable to find the net.

The Rams eventually knotted the game in 33rd minute when junior Brianne Moore found classmate Courtney Conrad in the box. Conrad then took the feed and launched a shot past William & Mary goalkeeper Caroline Casey to make it 1-1.

The Tribe had a chance to regain the lead on a penalty kick in the 39th minute but Carden stood strong and made the stop on a Mallory Schaffer shot.

William & Mary opened the second half just as it did the first with a pair of shots in the first three minutes.

In the 62nd minute, the Rams fired back-to-back shots on goal (Conrad and junior Taryn Cressy) but Casey was there for the stops.

Finally, in the 80th minute Conrad struck again when she scored the game-winner off a corner kick. Sophomore Cristin Granados sent the corner into the box but Bex Kunz's shot was blocked. However, Conrad was there to fire back the rebound and gave the Rams a 2-1 lead.

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HOW IT HAPPENED:

Junior Courtney Conrad fired a shot on goal to get VCU's offense started in the ninth minute, but Old Dominion goalkeeper Laura Bush was there for her first save of the game.

VCU (5-2-3) fired three more shots during a five-minute span beginning in the 14th minute when senior Wendy Acosta's shot sailed high. Moments later, Acosta had another look, but this time she pushed it just wide. Then in the 19th minute, sophomore Cristin Granados launched a shot wide left.

Old Dominion (2-7-0) countered in the 23rd minute when Ashlee Coutu fired a shot, but VCU senior goalkeeper Kristin Carden posted the save.

The Monarchs got on the board just before the half. In the 42nd minute, Amber Cook took a feed from Brook Boland off a throw in. Cook then headed the ball to Coutu who punched it over the head of Carden to give Old Dominion a 1-0 lead.

The Rams would eventually knot the score in the 63rd minute. Acosta fired a shot from 40 yards out, which sailed just under the crossbar to even the match at 1-1.

After the goal, VCU remained on the attack. In the 65th minute, sophomore Casey Boyer launched a shot off of a corner kick, but it was blocked. On the ensuing corner kick, Acosta had another chance, but her attempt was high.

The Black & Gold continued to rally and Acosta found the net for the second time in 74th minute to give VCU the lead for good.

Sophomore Alex Gogolin's shot hit of the post but Acosta fired the rebound into the right corner to put the Rams on top 2-1.


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HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Rams (5-3-3, 0-1-0) got on the scoreboard first with a goal in the 16th minute. Junior Courtney Conrad collected her own rebound at the penalty spot firing the ball into the back of the net.

Charlotte's Amanda Jones had the 49ers only two chances in the first half. She took two shots that hit off the post in both the fifth and 36th minute.

The 49ers (7-3-1, 1-0-0) came out on the attack to begin the second half. Monica Trickett and Dakota Olson each had chances in the 46th minute, but senior goalkeeper Kristin Carden came up with both saves.

In the 55th minute, Maddie Kiebel sent the ball to Jones, whose shot from 20 yards out found the left side net to tie the game, 1-1.

Following the goal, the Black and Gold became more offensive. VCU had four shots over a four minute span; Conrad had the first chance, but her shot sailed high. Senior Wendy Acosta had an opportunity moments later, but the shot deflected off the crossbar. Junior Brianne Moore nearly found the net off of a corner kick, however the shot was blocked, and classmate Jessie Krasko picked up the rebound, with her shot hitting the post.

Jones had a chance to give the 49ers the lead in the closing minutes. She fired three shots in the final four minutes of regulation but they were all off target.

The 49ers had the first chance in the overtime period, as Jennifer Lee sent a corner kick into the box for a Carrie Dail header, but Carden made the save.

In the 100th minute, Dail sent a through ball into the box finding Jones who was able to just beat Carden.

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HOW IT HAPPENED:

VCU (6-3-3, 1-1-0) opened the match with an early offensive attack. Junior Courtney Conrad fired a shot in the second minute, but a

George Washington defender stepped in front to end the chance. In the sixth minute junior Jessie Krasko put the ball on frame, however

George Washington goalkeeper Shannon Murphy made the save.
In the 10th minute the Rams would take the lead. Sophomore Cristin

Granados sent a corner kick that found senior Wendy Acosta, who was able to head the ball into right corner of the goal.

George Washington (4-6-1, 0-2-0) would mount a counter attack following the goal. With Melanie Keer and Adriana Moyer both taking shots, that were wide of the goal.

The Black and Gold would fire three shots in two minutes in the 39th and 40th minute. Senior Heather Hovanesian fired a shot on target, however, Murphy was there for the save. Classmate Lauryn Hutchinson gathered the rebound directing a shot back on goal, but Murphy was able to recover in make the save. In the 40th minute sophomore Maren Johansen fired a shot that sailed wide.

George Washington had two opportunities in the early minutes of the second half. In the 55th minute Kristi Abbate took a shot and VCU senior goalkeeper Kristin Carden was up to the task making the save.

Two minutes later, Molly Burgh had a chance but was blocked by the VCU backline.

Krasko had two chances in the 58th and 59th minute to extend the Rams lead. The first chance missed wide, and the second deflected off the post.

VCU would continue to threaten throughout the rest of the match and was able to add the insurance goal in the 82nd minute. As Krasko fed the ball into the box to senior Aisha Allen who put the ball in the back of the net.



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VCU Posts Dominating 6-0 Win Over Fordham in A-10 Home Opener


HOW IT HAPPENED:

VCU, which fired the first 10 shots of the match, had a few looks early but couldn't connect as six different Rams collected shots in the opening period.

Sophomore Maren Johansen fired a strike from the right side of the box in the 21st minute but Fordham goalkeeper Rachel Suther made a diving save. Senior Wendy Acosta had a solid look seven minutes later.

Junior Courtney Conrad eventually put VCU on top with just under 10 minutes to go in the first half. After a deflection near midfield, Conrad corralled the ball and broke loose toward the goal where she eventually deposited a strike into the left corner to give the Rams a 1-0 lead.

Conrad was at it again less than three minutes later when she took a feed from Johansen inside the box. She then finished in the left of the net to give VCU a two-goal advantage in the 38th minute.
Conrad had two more shots on goal in the 52nd and 56th minutes but Suther made saves on both attempts.

Acosta eventually gave VCU a three-goal cushion off a corner kick in the 59th minute. Sophomore Cristin Granados lofted a corner from the left side, which hit off the post. Acosta then finished the rebound into the right side of the net.

Granados converted a penalty kick in the 64th minute to push the Rams' lead to 4-0. She added another less than five minutes later when she took a feed from Johansen on the left wing, drove to the box and finished in the right corner to make it 5-0.

VCU wasn't done scoring as senior Ashley Grant found the net for the first time this season in the 85th minute. She took a feed from classmate Aisha Allen, which forced Fordham reserve keeper Ally White to drift too far in front of the goal, and Grant found the middle of the open net to make it 6-0.

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La Salle Snaps VCU's 11-Match Home Unbeaten Streak with Pair of Late Goals

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Each team had a pair of shots on goal in the first 15 minutes of the match. Junior Courtney Conrad had two long strikes for VCU (7-4-3, 2-2-0 A-10) but La Salle goalkeeper Gabrielle Pakhtigian made stops on both attempts.

Sophomore Cristin Granados created a chance in the 16th minute when she sent a cross to the middle of the box. Sophomore Maren Johansen got her head on the ball but it sailed just wide of the near post.

Conrad fired a point blank strike again from the left side of the goal box seven minutes later but Pakhtigian came up with her third save of the day.

VCU eventually took a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute when senior Heather Hovanesian sent a pass from the right wing to senior Wendy Acosta in front of the goal box. Acosta turned and slid a shot past Pakhtigian to the far post to put the Rams ahead.

La Salle (10-3-0, 4-0-0) had a look seven minutes later off a corner kick but Courtney Niemiec's shot from outside the box drifted high.
VCU created another chance in the 59th minute when junior Brianne Moore sent a pass to Acosta on the left wing. Acosta then crossed to Conrad in front of the net but her one-timer went just high of the crossbar.

Senior goalkeeper Kristin Carden made a nice snag near the far post on a shot from Kelsey Haycook in the 62nd minute. She came up with another stop off a free kick from Maryam Huseini four minutes later.

Renee Washington launched a long shot from about 25 yards out in the 73rd minute but Carden made her fifth save of the match to keep the Explorers off the board.

La Salle eventually scored the equalizer in the 77th minute. Carden came up with a save on a shot by Jessika Kagan but Ashley Chilcoat punched in the rebound to knot the game at 1-1.

Anna Dolhansky then took a long feed from Huseini and placed a perfect ball in the far post from the right wing to give the Explorers a 2-1 lead five minutes later.

After a Granados cross with just over a minute to play in regulation, Hovanesian sent a header toward the net but Pakhtigian made a snag to keep the Explorers on top.

Conrad then launched a shot from 25 yards out as time expired but couldn't find the net

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VCU Posts Second Straight Shutout, Fourth in Last Five Games, With 1-0 Win Over Butler


HOW IT HAPPENED:
Claire Milam tried to give Butler (8-4-3, 2-1-2 A-10) the lead in the 14th minute but her shot hit the post.

VCU had a chance in the 16th minute when junior Courtney Conrad sent a header to Acosta in the middle of the box, but Acosta's one-timer was blocked.

Thirty seconds later, sophomore Cristin Granados fired a shot from the top of the box but Butler goalkeeper Julie Burton made the stop.
The Rams had another look in the 24th minute. Acosta sent a cross to Conrad, who then passed to sophomore Maren Johansen inside the box. Johansen launched a strike but Burton was able to punch the ball over the net to keep the game scoreless.

Butler's Sophia Maccagnone cleared the wall of VCU defenders off a free kick in the 29th minute but Rams goalkeeper Kristin Carden made the save.

With just over 25 minutes to play, Elise Kotsakis drove toward the middle of field and fired a long shot from about 30 yards out but it sailed high of the net.

Junior Taryn Cressy sent a free kick from the right wing in the 67th minute but Burton punched the ball in the air where Granados fired the rebound high.

Acosta had another look in the 77th minute when she launched a strike from nearly 30 yards away but Burton again punched the ball off the cross bar and over the net.

Acosta was at it again in the 80th minute when she was taken down inside the box by Burton. On the ensuing penalty kick, Acosta pushed the ball into the lower left post to put the Rams on top 1-0.
VCU tried to add an insurance goal 30 seconds later when Johansen connected with Granados, but her shot went just wide.

Carden made a diving save on a strike from Maccagnone with just under three minutes to play. Butler made one final push with 30 seconds left when Claire Milam's shot from the right side went wide of the near post.

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Rams Earn 3-1 Victory Over Richmond on Senior Day


HOW IT HAPPENED:

Richmond (7-8-1, 3-3-1 A-10) began the match on the attack firing three shots in the first eight minutes. The Spiders' first chance came in the fifth minute when Natalie LeClair had a look, which was blocked. Crystal Koczot then fired back the rebound high.

Three minutes later, Kristen Lybert put the Spiders in front 1-0. LeClair dished to Lybert in the box, who sent a shot through traffic into the right corner of the net.

After Richmond went ahead, VCU's (10-4-3, 5-2-0) offense went to work. Conrad fired the Rams' first shot, but Richmond goalkeeper Andrea Young made the save.

Following a foul in the box a minute later, Acosta converted her first penalty kick of the night, beating Young to the right.

In the 43rd minute, the Spiders had a golden opportunity to regain the lead. Becca Wann sent a header toward the net following a corner, but Acosta cleared the ball away from the goal line to keep the game tied.

The Rams eventually took the lead for the good in the 53rd minute. Sophomore Maren Johansen found Conrad in the box, where the Dartmouth, Nova Scotia native fired a shot off the left post and into the net.

Richmond tried to get even in the 70th minute when LeClair had a chance in the box; however, senior goalkeeper Kristin Carden was there for her second save.

The Spiders committed another foul in the box in the 74th minute, and Acosta converted her second PK, this time to the left.


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