With the victory, VCU (8-4, 3-1 CAA) matched its victory total from a year ago and retained its hold on fourth place in the Colonial Athletic Association. The top four squads qualify for the CAA Championship in November. Hofstra slips to 5-7 overall and 0-3 in CAA play with the loss.

 
"Going 3-1 in the CAA is huge for us," said VCU Head Coach Kelly McQuade. "This league is so cutthroat, we need to win the games that we can, whenever we can. So, this was definitely a must-win game for us, and we came out strong and we pulled it out in the end. "

 
Trailing, 2-1, early in the second, VCU received back-to-back goals in the 40^th and 47^th minute from freshman Rachel Whitt (Fredericksburg, Va.) and sophomore Kelsey Scherrer (Chesapeake, Va.) to take a 3-2 lead.

 
Freshman Emilie Soares (Santa Clara, Calif.) later punched in a loose ball in front of the cage in the 50^th minute and van Dessel added the final nail in the Pride's coffin off a penalty corner three minutes later.

 
Much like their match with Drexel on Friday, the Rams came out firing in the second half. VCU outshot Hofstra 14-1 in the second half and owned an 8-1 advantage in penalty corners in the period. In two matches this weekend, VCU outshot its opponents 25-1 and outscored them 5-0 in the second half.

 
"In the second half we played so great as a team. Our work off the ball was really impressive," said McQuade. "In the first half we were a little slow, a little stagnant, but once they got moving we were really good and generated some attack. "

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With her two scores Sunday, van Dessel, who also recorded the Rams' first goal of the day, moved into third place on VCU's career goals list with 32. She needs two more to pass Celly Chamberlain for second. Alycia Yoder, who registered 38 goals from 1991-94, sits atop the Rams' all-time chart. van Dessel has a team-high seven goals this season.

 
Becky Kazaks and Arielle Williams scored to lead Hofstra.

 
Another big CAA test awaits the Rams on Friday, Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. when they host James Madison at Cary Street Field.

VCU CAREER GOALS
1-Alycia Yoder (1991-94)           38
2-Celly Chamberlain (1985-88)  33
3-Marle van Dessel (2007- )       32
4-Mami Voorhees (1988-91)       31 
5-Jennifer Howard (1999-2003)   29

VCU CAREER POINTS
1-Alycia Yoder (1991-94)           97
2-Celly Chamberlain (1985-88)  87
3-Mami Voorhees (1988-91)      73
4-Marle van Dessel (2007- )      72
5-two tied at                            67