Box Score: No. 4 Rhode Island 2, No. 5 VCU 1
Location: Kingston, R.I. / URI Soccer Complex
Records: VCU (7-10-3, 5-4-1 A-10), Rhode Island (12-5-2, 5-3-2)
 
THE SHORT STORY
Despite a purely dominant second half, VCU women's soccer was unable to complete its late comeback and fell to Rhode Island in the Atlantic 10 Quarterfinal, 2-1, Friday night. VCU concluded a strong debut season for first-year Head Coach Lauryn Hutchinson.
 
PITCH SIDE

• Mia Pongratz made five saves to bring her season total to 82, the eighth-most single-season saves in program history
• Keira McCloskey scored her third goal of the season
• Freshman Isabelle Franklin notched her sixth assist and 12^th point of the season, leading the team in both marks
• Senior Kendyl Sarver's four shots were a season high
• VCU outshot Rhode Island 13-12 in the match, but URI placed seven shots on goal to VCU's four
• VCU didn't allow a shot by Rhode Island in the second half

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• VCU's early attempts at breaking through the Rhode Island back line were thwarted and Rhody opened the scoring from the corner of the penalty box in the 34^th minute, taking a 1-0 lead
• In the 37^th minute, the host extended its first-half lead to two goals, tapping in the rebound on a Pongratz save
• VCU returned from the break with renewed energy, taking just 2:22 for McCloskey to redirect a feed from Franklin to cut the lead to just one, 2-1
• The visiting Rams took eight more shots on goal and didn't allow Rhode Island to attempt one of its own, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit
• VCU ended its 2025 campaign in the Atlantic 10 Quarterfinal with a 7-10-3 overall record and a 5-4-1 record in their Atlantic 10 slate