Scott Wyant
Staff Writer
Courtney Conard hadn’t scored in four games and VCU (3-2-2) had done nothing but tie at Sports Backers Stadium this season, but that all changed in one play Sunday afternoon.
“I am proud of this team because we will never give up,” said co-head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak. “We even train like that at practice, we play to the final whistle.”
After a scoreless first half, VCU came out as the aggressor in the second half, taking 10 shots in the second frame compared to Pittsburgh’s three.
“After we went in for halftime we told the girls to continue to press and to believe that we’re gonna win this game,” said Roberts Sahaydak. “We felt like Pittsburgh sat back a little bit and so we just took it to them.”
The Rams’ most dangerous opportunity came in the 51st minute when substitute Taryn Cressy took a free kick that nearly bent back on frame.
Pittsburgh almost struck in the 74th minute as forward Dana DelleFemine’s shot forced Kristen Carden into full extension to make the save.
Cristin Granados and her countrywoman Wendy Acosta’s speed created problems for the Panthers in the second half. Their pace allowed the Rams to send crosses into the box earning six corner kicks on the afternoon. Unfortunately for VCU, the Panthers’ goalkeeper, Nicole D’Agostino, was able to punch the ball away.
As regulation began to wind down, the Rams’ chances became more frequent. In the 85th, midfielder Heather Hovanesian found herself on the end of a long rebound and blasted a shot that went just wide.
After playing a scoreless regulation, Roberts Sahaydak and her team found themselves in a very familiar situation: overtime.
This time was different, after tying their first three matches at home; this game had a winner in it.
As the first overtime period began, Roberts Sahaydak’s squad showed they were more fit than their Big East opponent.
The extra hustle would then decide the game after a shot from Jessie Krasko deflected off a Pittsburgh defender which was gobbled up by Courtney Conrad and lofted over D’Agostino’s head and into the back of the net.
“We knew we just needed to keep going and we were going to put it away,” Conrad said. “I had one due for a while so putting one away in a game like this in overtime was really exciting.”
Conrad was the leading scorer a year ago for the Rams but had just one goal to show for her efforts coming in to the game.
“If you don’t score in a few games you start feeling the pressure,” Roberts Sahaydak said. “It happens to all the best forwards in the world. Sometimes it’s like nothing will go right.”
With one bounce, a goal-scorer’s touch can come right back.
“I’m glad that she got the monkey off her back and now I’m hoping they come in buckets,” Roberts Sahaydak said.
With the shutout, senior Kristen Carden earned her second shutout of the season and of the weekend.
VCU returns to action on Friday when UMBC will visit Richmond at Sports Backer Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff.