Undefeated VCU field hockey claims first A-10 title in program history
RICHMOND, Va. (BVM) — It was a historic day for the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams field hockey team Saturday. At 8-0, the Rams had an opportunity to do something it never had before: win the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Championship. The No. 1-seed Rams would do just that as they took down No. 3-seed Saint Joseph’s 2-0.
The Rams were led by solid defense in the net by junior goalkeeper Sasha Elliot who allowed no goals during the tournament, including keeping the Hawks five shots on goal out of the net, en route to the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award. She also earned all-tournament team honors and was joined by sophomore Lonica McKinney, who scored one of the two goals in the championship match, juniors Litiana Field and Janne Wetzel and senior Maite Sturm.
Though the Hawks held the ball for most of the first half and had all five of their shots on goal in the half, they were unable to work it past Elliot and the Rams’ defense. In the fourth quarter, the Rams finally broke the tie when McKinney got a shot past the Hawks goalie for her second goal of the season. The Hawks pulled their goalie with 4:32 left in regulation to try and tie the game, but the Rams would be the ones to score when freshman Georgia Carr-Brown scored with 2:16 left, putting the game comfortably out of reach.
championships are 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱.#LetsGoVCU | #ThisRamNation pic.twitter.com/CDx7aOlv7Q
— VCU Field Hockey (@VCURamsFH) April 24, 2021
With the win, the Rams earned a spot in the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament for the first time in program history. The Rams will play Bucknell on Friday at 12 p.m. at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex in University Park, Pa. as part of the 12-team field. The winner of the game will advance to face No. 2-seed Michigan on Sunday.
With history already made, the Rams will look to build on their memorable season during their first trip to the NCAA Tournament.
