Score: VCU 0, UMass 1
Location: Amherst, Mass. (Rudd Field)
Records: VCU 3-5-2 (2-1), 5-3-2 (2-1)
 
THE SHORT STORY: Despite recording twice as many shots and forcing seven saves, VCU Women's Soccer dropped a tough match thanks to a second half goal by UMass to fall in Thursday afternoon's Atlantic 10 matchup.
 
PITCH SIDE

• The Rams finished with 14 shots, and had seven on goal
• VCU held UMass to just seven total shots, and two on goal
• In corners, VCU out earned UMass 14-1
• Kendyl Sarver was busy all match long, leading the Rams with three shots, two on goal
• Milica Bulatovic added a pair of shots on goal as well
• Kanna Matsuhisa was again a threat on the attack, ripping off three shots
• The loss snapped VCU's two-match winning streak

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Rams began the game by setting the tone early, getting a shot that went out from Matsuhisa in the 13th minute
• VCU recorded their first shot on goal when Sarver took a shot in the 31st minute that test the UMass keeper
• Bulatovic added a shot on goal in the 32nd minute and in the 40th minute Stella Castro tested the UMass keeper again, but her shot was stopped as well
• Despite VCU pushing the tempo, the score remained 0-0 after the first half
• The second half began much like the previous half ended with the Rams asking the questions
• In the 47th minute Sarver fired one off the woodwork before Aisha Maughan sent one over the net
• VCU got a pair of shots on goal in the 50th minute (Sarver) and the 60th minute (Maughan) as they pushed for a go-ahead goal
• But in the 64th minute, and against the run of play, UMass found the opening goal to go up 1-0
• VCU did not stop looking for what was now a tying goal, getting a shot on goal from Lindsey Munyak in the 68th minute, and shots from Matsuhisa (73rd) and Greta Kraszula (77th)
• And in the 85th minute Bulatovic again shot on the UMass keeper, but much like the previous six shots on goal, the UMass keeper was to the task to keep VCU off the board
• When the final whistle blew, UMass' second half goal was the difference in their 1-0 win

UP NEXT: The Rams return to Sports Backers Stadium for a Sept. 24 A-10 meeting with Rhode Island, before heading back on the road for another A-10 battle when they visit La Salle on Sept. 28.