Photos & Game Summary: Impressive Second Half Earns a Ram Victory

All photos are from the 1st half.

Official VCU Game Summary

Box Score: VCU 3, UNCW 0
Location: Richmond, Va. / Sports Backers Stadium
Records: VCU (1-6), UNCW (2-4-2)

THE SHORT STORY: Intensity dialed up following a scoreless first half as Kanna Matsuhisa and Milica Bulatovic combined for three goals in seven minutes and Allison Karpovich tripled her total saves to lift the Rams to a 3-0 victory over UNCW.

PITCH SIDE

• All of the Rams’ goals were scored in a seven-minute window, netting three in the 60^th, 65^th and 67^th minutes
• Karpovich made a career-best nine saves in net for the Rams, earning her first shutout of the year and the fifth of her career
• Matsuhisa’s pair of goals doubled her total, matching her single-season high of four through just seven games
• VCU posted season-best marks with three goals and 15 shots
• Bulatovic scored her first goal of the season and led VCU with five shots, three of which were on goal
• Makaya Parham and Isabella Cahall each registered a shot on goal
• The Rams capitalized on their control of the ball, trailing the Seahawks with 44% possession, but outshooting them 15-14
• Just one yellow card was shown in the match, to UNCW’s Rachel Fry

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Karpovich started her perfect night in the fifth minute, making the first save of the game on a shot from six yards out
• Bulatovic recorded the Rams’ first shot on goal in the 12^th minute and Parham induced another Seahawks save in the 33^rd minute
• With another remarkable save, Karpovich made a 10-yard run to subdue a Seahawks breakaway
• Pressing into the 60^th minute, Cahall (59′) and Bulatovic (60′) each added a shot on goal before Matsuhisa broke open the game on a penalty kick
• Bulatovic blasted a shot wide in the 63^rd minute, but followed with a bullet by Seahawks keeper Morgan Hobbs on a feed from Greta Krazula
• Capitalizing on a UNCW turnover in the center circle, Matsuhisa made a 60-yard run, bending a shot around a Seahawks defender for the Rams’ third goal in the 67^th minute

UP NEXT:
VCU opens Atlantic 10 competition on the road in Davidson, N.C., at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, against Davidson.