Score: VCU 1, Saint Louis 0
Location: Richmond, Va. (Sports Backers Stadium)
Records: VCU 8-2-0 (4-0-0 Atlantic 10), Saint Louis 4-7-1, (2-2-0 A-10)
 
The short story: Redshirt senior forward Lyndsey Gutzmer scored off a cross from redshirt senior forward Samantha Jerabek to push the Rams past reigning Atlantic 10 champions Saint Louis, VCU's fourth straight conference win. 
 
QUICK FACTS

• After bagging two assists last time out in a 4-1 win at George Mason, Gutzmer's goal was her first of the year and eighth of her career.
• Jerabek's assist was her team-high fourth of the season and 17th of her career, which also gives her a team-high 10 points on the year.
• Four straight wins is VCU's best start to A-10 play since 2018, when the Rams won their first five conference matches.
• Redshirt senior goalkeeper Grace Young made four saves to preserve her fourth shutout of the season, a career high.
• VCU held a 58%-42% advantage in possession, while outshooting the Billikens 14-11.
• The Rams sit alone at the top of the A-10 standings with a 4-0-0 conference record and 12 points.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Gutzmer drew a foul in the box in the 17th minute, but Saint Louis's Emily Puricelli dove fully extended to stop Emma Kershner's penalty that was headed for the bottom corner.
• In the 19th minute, Young came off her line to punch out a corner kick, then dove again to push the ball over the bar when the Billikens sent the rebound on goal.
• Senior defender Amber DiOrio headed a corner kick just wide of the goal in the 26th minute.
• Jerabek and junior midfielder Anna Bagley combined nicely along the left wing in the 38th minute, setting up Bagley to take a low-flying shot that was saved at the near post.
• Three minutes later, freshman forward Kanna Matsuhisa took a deft turn at midfield to shield off a defender, then took off into open space in the attacking third. She cut inside a Billiken defender, then ripped a left-footed shot that was saved at the bottom corner.
• As play got spread out in the second half, sophomore defender Natalia Santangelo made an excellent defensive play in the 71st minute, sprinting back to clear away a ball that had squirted past Young in a collision with an oncoming Saint Louis attacker.
• The 74th minute saw VCU put home the lone goal of the match. As Jerabek dribbled down the left wing, she cut quickly and floated a ball to the back post, where Gutzmer had gotten past her mark and one-touched a finish into the side netting.
• Graduate forward Bri Kropinack took a great turn in the 80th minute, charging into open space and crossing for Jerabek, who got her shot blocked.
• The Rams held strong defensively as Saint Louis pushed for an equalizer, holding the Billikens without a shot on goal after the VCU score.

 
UP NEXT
The Rams continue A-10 play Sunday, Oct. 3 with a road match at Massachusetts at 1 p.m. in Amherst, Mass.