FINAL: VCU 1, UMass 0 – 2OT (Amherst, Mass.)

RECORDS: VCU (6-4-1, 1-0-0 A-10), UMass (5-6-1, 1-1-0 A-10)

VCU STARTERS: #18 Kruse (GK), #2 Krasko, #6 Ritter, #7 Kunz, #8 Conrad, #9 Wojcik, #10 Cressy, #32 Boyer, #33 Johansen, #35 Gogolin, #37 Moik

UMASS STARTERS: #1 Kriscenski (GK), #4 Sverrisdottir, #6 Coombs, #7 Smith, #8 Burke, #12 Coppola, #21 Gibson, #23 Moore, #24 K'Arcy, #25 Weithofer, #26 Skesavage

THE BASICS:

• Sophomore Kailyn Slade came up big with her first career goal Saturday afternoon as she scored the game-winner in the 106th minute to give VCU a 1-0 double overtime victory at UMass in its Atlantic 10 opener.
• With the win, the Rams extended their unbeaten streak to six matches as sophomore goalkeeper Emma Kruse posted her third shutout in her last five outings.
• It's been nearly a month since VCU's last loss, which was a 2-1 setback at College of Charleston on Sept. 6.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Kruse made three saves through the first 12 minutes of the match to keep UMass off the board.
• Senior Courtney Conrad fired VCU's first look in the 16th minute but Minutewomen goalie Danielle Kriscenski made her first stop.  Kriscenski made another save on a shot off the foot of sophomore Natalie Moik five minutes later.
• Junior Maren Johansen's offering was blocked in the 30th minute before Kriscenski registered her third save on a strike from senior Jessie Krasko in the 32nd minute.
• After three early shots, UMass recorded just one the rest of the opening period when Kruse posted her third stop in the 37th minute.
• The Rams nearly took the lead just before intermission but Kriscenski made another snag on a shot by freshman Dallas Smith with less than a minute left in the first half.
• VCU remained on the attack early in the second period, tallying three shots through the first nine minutes.  Conrad and senior Taryn Cressy each fired a shot of frame before Krasko's attempt in the 54th minute was blocked.
• Kruse registered her fifth save in the 60th minute before Kriscenski came up with a stop in the 63rd.
• Moik fired a shot wide in the 74th minute and junior Alex Gogolin's offering was blocked 10 minutes later.
• VCU eventually took advantage of an opportunity midway through the second overtime when Conrad sent a thru ball to Slade, who scored her first career goal when she beat Kriscenski with a low strike from the top of the box.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• VCU held a 14-13 advantage in shots, including an 8-5 edge in shots on goal.
• Kruse recorded five saves in net for the Rams en route to her third shutout of the season, while Kriscenski finished with seven for UMass.
• Conrad registered a team-high three shots with two on goal, including an assist on Slade's game-winner.  Four other Rams collected two shots apiece.
• Saturday's result marked VCU's second overtime victory of the season.

QUOTABLE:
"Today was a hard fought match in a tough environment on the road.  I'm proud of our effort and fight.  Individually we didn't have some of our best days, but we managed to pull together a total team effort to keep a clean sheet and persevere in overtime.  To go on the road and grab three points to kickoff conference play is a huge step in the right direction.  We are excited to return home for two massive games next week."
-Head Coach Lindsey Vanderspiegel

WHAT'S AHEAD: VCU returns to Sports Backers Stadium for back-to-back home matches beginning with Fordham on Friday, Oct. 11 at 5 p.m.  The Rams then host La Salle at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 13.