Box Score 
RICHMOND, Va. – If Flore van
Dessel (Oisterwijk, Netherlands) has solved the
penalty stroke, she's not telling.
"I had a plan. I'm not going to tell. That's my little
secret," the Virginia Commonwealth University senior said. "I think
over the last three years I've probably taken over 100 strokes, so
at some point it just becomes muscle memory."
Cloak and dagger aside, it appeared that van Dessel actually knew
something when she fired home a penalty stroke 10 minutes into
overtime to give VCU a stunning 2-1 victory over Richmond Wednesday
at Crenshaw Field.
The victory is the Rams' third straight and improves them to 3-2
on the year. It also snapped a nine-game losing streak in overtime
contests that dated back to 2008. VCU's last OT win was a 2-1
victory over at Fairfield on Aug. 29, 2008.
With the score tied at 1-1 in the 80th minute, VCU
sophomore Arialle Hess
(Allentown, Pa.) streaked into the Spiders' circle with
the ball and drew a flagrant foul to earn the Rams' a penalty
stroke. van Dessel, who is 2-of-4 in career stroke attempts,
slipped a low liner just inside the left post and past a diving
Richmond keeper for the victory.
"It wasn't my best stroke, but it went in and that's what counts,"
van Dessel said.
When the ball found the back of the cage, van Dessel's
teammates stormed onto the field to mob her. After nine straight
overtime losses, the Rams were eager to celebrate Wednesday's
victory.
"I feel great, there's really nothing else I can say right now,"
beamed VCU Head Coach Kelly McQuade. "I just feel
like the weight has been lifted and the girls are walking a little
bit taller now."
Flore's twin sister Marle (pictured, left) gave VCU a 1-0 halftime
lead when she blasted a feed from Hess to the lower left corner in
the 12th minute. In the second half, Richmond's
Christina Amorose provided the equalizer during a corner in the
44th minute when she tipped in a ball from the right
post from point blank range.
Junior keeper Erin
Jablonski (Charlottesville, Va.) made two saves in
goal for VCU to earn her third victory.
The Rams won't be able to enjoy their dramatic win for long. On
Sunday, Sept. 12, VCU will travel to No. 4 Princeton for a noon
match with the Tigers.
