RICHMOND, Va. – With eyes on a second Atlantic 10 regular season championship since 2021, VCU Women's Soccer kicks off its 2023 campaign on Thursday, Aug. 17 at Sports Backers Stadium against Liberty.
 
Returning three All-Conference honorees and boasting three preseason A-10 All-Conference honorees, the Rams will look to make noise during the 2023 season as they battle to return to the top of the A-10.
 
"The sky is the limit for this group," said 11-year head coach Lindsey Martin. "We have so many of the pieces required for a championship caliber team and we feel they are ready to return to that form."
 
Highlighting VCU's returners are redshirt senior Anna Bagley, junior Kanna Matsuhisa and sophomore Kendyl Sarver, who all three earned A-10 preseason All-Conference honors. Bagley was also named to the 2023 United Soccer Coaches Division I Women's Players to Watch list as a midfielder to cap off her preseason honors.
 
Sarver led the Rams in goals during the 2022 season, earning A-10 Rookie of the Year honors, finishing with eight goals to tie her for the conference lead amongst freshman. Matsuhisa added four goals and a team-high six assists, while Bagley was right behind Matsuhisa with five assists and she was a constant presence on the pitch playing 90 minutes in 18 games.
 
The three preseason honorees are joined by a collection of equally experienced Rams with seniors Aisha Maughan, Milica Bulatovic and Ella Higgins joining juniors Greta Kraszula and Isidora Gajdobranski with at least 17 games played each over the 2022 season.
 
Maughan was a perfect 2-for-2 from the penalty spot, and along with Bulatovic, scored three goals over the season. Kraszula added three points with a goal and an assist from the back line and along with her mate on the defense, Gajdobranski, was key to helping VCU record eight shutouts. Gajdobranski also added a game winning goal against A-10 foe Loyola Chicago to go along with her stout defensive play.
 
In goal, the Rams return senior Stevie Mika, junior Allison Karpovich, sophomore Lilly Heit and add freshman Mia Pongratz as they look to replace last year's starter Whitney Horton who graduated following the 2022 season. All four have been taking reps in goal as the Rams work as a squad with volunteer assistant coach Adrian Clewlow (goalkeepers) to solidify that position.
 
"From talent to work rate to unity, we have enough for us to navigate the journey of the season through its up and downs," added Martin. "We are excited for the start of the season and what we can accomplish this year."
 
VCU opens its A-10 account at home on Sept. 14 when they host in-town rival Richmond at 7 p.m. The Rams also play host to No. 11 Stanford on Sept. 7 and make the short trip to Charlottesville, Va. to face No. 5 Virginia on Sept. 3.