Score: VCU 2, Loyola Maryland 0
Location: Baltimore, Md. / Ridley Sports Complex
Records: VCU (1-2-2), Loyola Maryland (3-1-1)
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THE SHORT STORY
VCU women's soccer took just 1:47 to take its decisive lead at previously undefeated Loyola Maryland, scoring on a rocket from
Jensyn Lins and never relinquishing the advantage. Head Coach Lauryn Hutchinson earned her first career win with the Rams' Thursday evening victory.
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PITCH SIDE
- VCU women's soccer alum and first-year head coach Hutchinson earned the first victory in her coaching career
- Mia Pongratz posted the first clean sheet of her career, making five saves
- Jensyn Lins contributed to both goals, netting her first in a VCU uniform and assisting on her third of the year
- Keira McCloskey scored her first career goal, marking the fourth Ram to do so this season
- Both Isabelle Franklin and Keira Connolly notched their first career points, each tallying an assist
- The Rams did not make a substitution in the first half and had four field players put in the full 90
- VCU kept its perfect record against Loyola, rising to 4-0 with its fourth shutout of the series
- Yellow cards were issued to VCU's Ameerah Maamry and the bench
HOW IT HAPPENED
- VCU opened the contest with a statement goal in just the second minute as Lins' eventual game-winner set the tone for the match
- The Rams took command of possession early, not allowing Loyola to create any scoring opportunities until the 15th minute
- In a highly defensive first half, both teams were limited to just one shot on goal with the possession favoring the Greyhounds late in the period
- Despite coming out of the locker rooms for a much more aggressive second half, neither team surrendered a shot until Pongratz preserved her shutout with a 62nd-minute save
- McCloskey rocketed a strike into the top left corner past Greyhound keeper Brigid Mulholland to extend VCU's lead to a pair, 2-0
- Steadfast between the posts, the Rams' junior keeper made her fifth save in the 83rd minute as the visitors went on to secure their first victory of 2025Â
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UP NEXT
VCU will return to action in a week at Sports Backers Stadium as it hosts Navy on Thursday, Sept. 4 as the first of a two-game home week. The Rams will then welcome in-state opponent Old Dominion on Sunday, Sept. 7 for their "Kick for a Cure" pink game.