Final Score: VCU 4, Delaware 3
Location: Richmond, Va.
Records: VCU 1-0, Delaware 0-1
 
The Short Story: VCU trailed 1-0 early before rallying to score four of the game's next five goals. Sheridan Messier saved a penalty stroke in the second half and the Rams held off Delaware late.
 
QUICK FACTS:

• Skyler Padgett scored a career-best two goals on her only two shot attempts
• Mora Marrero scored a goal and added an assist
• Carley Deaver also scored a goal in her collegiate debut
• Maggie Goodwin recorded two assists while Luisa Fasold each recorded one assist in her VCU debut
• Sheridan Messier made seven saves in the cage for the Rams
• The Blue Hens outshot the Rams 16-10 overall but only 11-8 in shots on goal. Delaware had a 14-3 advantage in penalty corners awarded
• Delaware was led by Julia Duffhuis who scored a goal and had an assist

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Blue Hens struck first in the fifth minute as Kiki Oudshoorn scored off a deflected pass from close range
• The Rams responded less than a minute later off a penalty corner as Fasold fed a pass to Deaver across the face of the goal before her shot beat the goalkeeper
• VCU went up 2-1 in the 24^th minute as Marrero chipped the ball up for Padgett who extended her stick high in the air and knocked it down and past the goalie
• The Blue Hens evened the game at 2-2 just before halftime in the 29^th minute as Duffhuis scored on an assist from Valentina Martorell
• The second half started strong for VCU, in the 33^rd minute Padgett scored her second of the day on an assist from Goodwin
• The game then went-back-and-forth until the 55^th minute when Goodwin intercepted a pass at midfield, played a through ball to Marrero who beat the goalkeeper one-on-one to give the Rams a 4-2 lead
• The Blue Hens clawed a goal back in the 57^th minute as Berber Bakermans scored but VCU held on for the win

UP NEXT:
VCU hosts Kent State on Sunday, Aug. 27 for a 1 p.m. start at Cary Street Field. The game will be streamed on ESPN+