FINAL: Akron 2, VCU 1 (Knoxville, Tenn. - First Tennessee Lady Vol Classic)

VCU STARTERS: #18 Kruse (GK), #5 Wilson, #6 White, #7 Kunz, #8 Conrad, #9 Granados, #12 Edgecomb, #15 Moore, #16 Hutchinson, #20 Acosta, #33 Johansen

AKRON STARTERS: #1 Adee (GK), #2 Kirkwood, #4 Wise, #5 George, #9 Waskowski, #10 Deniro, #16 Kern, #18 Werth, #19 Kanz, #27 Rusnak, #29 Carrel


HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Sophomore Cristin Granados and junior Courtney Conrad each fired a pair of shots during a six-minute stretch early in the first half.
• The Rams continued to pressure and eventually got on the board in the 19th minute as Granados scored her first goal of the season.  Following a save by Akron goalkeeper Klaire Adee, Granados fired back the rebound into the middle of the net to give VCU a 1-0 lead.
• Senior Gabby Wilson and sophomore Alex Gogolin each had looks in a span of 45 seconds in the 26th minute.  But Adee saved Wilson's offering before Gogolin's shot sailed just wide.
• Akron, which had just one shot on goal in the entire first half, went on to knot the game at 1-1 in the 37th minute when Ashley Hughes found the right side of the net on a breakaway.  It was her first goal of the season.
• Senior Breiana White had a look in the 61st and 67th minutes but Adee made saves on both attempts.
• VCU senior goalkeeper Kristin Carden, who saw her first action of the year after recovering from injury, collected a save off a shot from Akron's Megan Waskowsi in the 65th minute.  It proved to be just the Zips' second shot on frame.
• Akron, which had just seven shots and three on goal the entire match, stunned the Rams with the eventual game-winner in the 85th minute.  Waskowski sent a pass to Hannah Werth in the box before Werth's strike hit off the crossbar and found the top right corner to give the Zips a late 2-1 lead.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• VCU outshot Akron 10-3, including a 5-1 margin in shots on goal in the first half.  The Rams held a 5-4 shot advantage in the second half.
• Wilson finished with a game-high four shots (two on goal) for VCU, while Conrad and Granados finished with three apiece.
• Adee made seven saves in the net for Akron, while Carden finished with one for the Rams.

QUOTABLE:
"Unfortunately, we did not put together our best performance tonight.  Akron was a tough opponent and they punished us for the mistakes that we made.  We know we will need to come together quickly and prepare for Sunday."
-VCU Co-Head Coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak


WHAT'S AHEAD:
VCU concludes play in the First Tennessee Lady Vols Classic on Sunday, Aug. 26 against host Tennessee.  Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.  The Rams return to Sports Backers Stadium on Sept. 1 against Villanova at 1 p.m.