Virginia Commonwealth University

Score: No. 2 VCU 18, No. 3 St. Bonaventure 11
Location: Davidson, N.C.
Records: VCU 13-4, St. Bonaventure 11-8
Round: A-10 Semifinals

The Short Story: VCU raced out to an 8-0 lead and fended off all St. Bonaventure rally attempts to advance to the A-10 Championship game for the first time in program history.

OPENING DRAW:

• VCU advances to the A-10 Championship game for the first time in the program's 11-year history after playing its first season in 2016
• The Rams reached the A-10 Semifinals for the first time in program history last season, this marked their second appearance in the round
• Sam Palmer tied a career-high with five goals scoring on each of her shot attempts
• Amelia Eilbacher scored a career-high four goals on just five shot attempts 
• Rachel Koeneke had two goals and a game-high three assists. Annika Bennett and Molly O'Keefe each scored twice
• Lu Doyen made nine saves in goal for the Rams
• The Rams went 6-of-8 from free position attempts and committed just five turnovers to St. Bonaventure's 12
• VCU and St. Bonaventure were tied 26-26 in shots and the Bonnies led 17-13 in shots on goal. The Rams trailed in draw controls 21-10
• The Bonnies were led by Brooke Piper who scored four goals

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Palmer opened the scoring with 9:08 left in the first quarter as the Rams scored eight unanswered goals to lead 8-0 with 8:51 left before halftime
• St. Bonaventure scored three of the next four goals to cut VCU's lead to 9-3 at the break
• The Rams and Bonnies went back-and-forth during the third quarter until Bennett's goal was the first of three consecutive to push VCU's lead to 16-6 with 13:26 remaining
• The Rams led by at least six goals the entire second half in the win

UP NEXT:
VCU faces No. 4 seed and championship site host Davidson on Sunday, May 3 at noon. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.