Box Score 
RICHMOND, Va. – Women's soccer in the Colonial Athletic
Association is very much a battle every night and the Virginia
Commonwealth University women's soccer team found that out right
away, playing two of the top teams in the opening weekend.
For the second team in that opening weekend, the Rams came up
just short with a streaking Hofstra team defeating the Black &
Gold 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at VCU's Sports Backers Stadium.
"We hope today is a learning experience for our girls," Co-Head
Coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. "Hofstra is a
quality team that has a ton of experience on their side. I thought
that showed at points today and will hopefully be something that we
can improve on with time."
VCU would get some early chances with three first-half
corners, but the Pride's back line was able to stifle any chance at
a scoring threat
Hofstra, who has not lost since the season opener against
fifth-ranked Boston College, would not let the Rams get comfortable
though and continued to up the pressure.
In the 32nd minute, Grace Hawkins was able to get loose
and fired a shot from 12 yards out that VCU's Megan Lynch
was able knock down, but Krysti Rodriguez was there for the rebound
and put in her first career goal to give Hofstra a 1-0 lead.
"I really thought we came out with more energy and effort in the
early going, but that first goal seemed to cause a little lack of
focus," Roberts Sahaydak said. "Again I think that the youth of our
team had something to do with that, but we'll work hard in practice
and look to get better next time out."
Hawkins would generate the Pride offense again in the
41st minute as she lofted a long pass to a speeding Ruby
Staplehurst, who got loose and deposited a shot into the bottom
left corner of the net to push the Hofstra advantage to 2-0.
After the intermission, the Rams continued to battle for
possession in the midfield, but weren't able to get anything going
with a tough Hofstra defense, which has allowed just four goals in
the past eight games.
The Pride owned the shot advantage, 11-3, with VCU gaining the
edge in corners at 4-3.
VCU is back in action on Thursday night when they travel north
to take on the Patriots of George Mason in a 6 p.m. contest.
