Photos and Game Summary: Rams Comeback to Win in Extra Time

Official VCU Summary

The short story: Redshirt senior forward Samantha Jerabek scored the golden goal in the 108th minute as the Rams collected a dramatic win in the opening game of the Atlantic 10 schedule.

QUICK FACTS

• Jerabek scored her second goal of the season, the 26th of her career, and leads VCU with seven points on the season.
• Senior forward Aileen Guthrie scored her team-high third goal of the season in her first start of the year.
• Graduate forward Bri Kropinack notched her second goal of the year to tie the game late in the second half.
• Junior midfielder Anna Bagley notched her second assist of the season on Jerabek’s goal, while sophomore midfielder Ella Higgins recorded her first point of the year, assisting Kropinack’s goal.
• VCU out-shot George Washington by a wide 32-6 margin. The Rams also held a 10-2 advantage in corner kicks, while the Colonials committed 19 fouls compared to VCU’s seven.
• This was VCU’s first match in two weeks after COVID-19 protocols within the William & Mary program canceled a Sept. 9 meeting with the Tribe.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• VCU controlled play in the first half, outshooting GW by a 12-2 margin and earning four corner kicks.
• Jerabek was dangerous on the left wing in the early going, forcing saves at the near post in both the 17th and 20th minutes.
• The Rams opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Bagley stepped to win a ball in the midfield, then played a through ball to spring Guthrie on a breakaway, where she slotted the ball into the lower right side-netting.
• The Colonials equalized against the run of play in the 33rd minute through Isabelle Eskay, who finished Isabella Buck’s cross.
• The Rams had a dangerous chance in the 40th minute from Jerabek’s free kick, as Gajdobranski pounced on a loose ball in the box and fired a shot on goal.
• GW took a 2-1 lead in the 49th minute, with Kelly Amador scoring from a Maria Pareja assist.
• The Rams tied the game in the 78th when Higgins played a through ball that split four Colonial defenders, that Kropinack touched around charging GW goalkeeper Tamaki Machi and rolled into the empty net.
• Jerabek was a scoring threat throughout the two overtime periods, firing a shot just over the bar in the 91st minute, and forcing a pair of saves in the 104th and 106th.
• The Chesterfield, Va., product ended the game a few moments later. After collecting a pass from sophomore forward Aisha Maughan, she took on a GW defender 1-on-1 to get into the box, then fired a left-footed shot inside the far post. The goal marked Jerabek’s sixth game-winning score of her prolific career.

UP NEXT
The Rams face their first in-conference road test at St. Bonaventure on Thursday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. Every A-10 match is streamed on ESPN+.