Thursday, November 12th, 2026

Sports

VCU men’s basketball dominates NJIT at home

November 11, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU wasted little time putting Saturday’s loss to Memphis behind them, dominating the paint on both ends of the floor in an 87-49 blowout against NJIT on Wednesday night at the Siegel Center. Third-year guard Blake Harper set the tone on the opening possession, tossing a lob to third-year forward Torey Alston for an early slam. From there, the Rams relentlessly attacked the rim.  VCU bullied its way to 20 points in the paint and 14-of-19 shooting at the free-throw line before halftime. Second-year guard Nyk Lewis stretched the floor by cashing in on his first three attempts from deep. Alston poured in 15 first-half points as the Rams took a commanding 43-28 lead into the locker room. Any hopes of a Highlanders comeback evaporated immediately after the break. Fourth-year forward Lazar Djokovic threw down a dunk to open the second half, and Lewis followed with his fourth three-pointer of the night to push the margin to 20. Much of VCU’s offense flowed through the frontcourt duo of Djokovic and Alston, who repeatedly punished NJIT around the basket and capitalized on defensive overreactions. “We definitely worked in [those cuts],” Alston said afterward. “Lazar has always told

Men’s soccer head coach retires after 17-year career

November 11, 2026

Devynn Alston, Staff Writer Last week, VCU men’s soccer head coach Dave Giffard announced his retirement from college coaching. After 17 years, Giffard is leaving a program defined by conference success, NCAA tournament appearances and player development.  Giffard finished his time at VCU with a 128-120-61 record and led the Rams to two Atlantic 10 regular-season championships, three NCAA tournament appearances and five appearances in the A-10 tournament championship match. Giffard’s impact extended beyond the field. In his retirement statement, he emphasized the importance of developing his players as both players and individuals.  Giffard stated in a press release from VCU Athletics, that once he himself became a soccer parent and became more involved with young players and families in the community, he discovered a new sense of purpose outside of college coaching.  He also expressed gratitude toward VCU’s administration for respecting his decision, which he had communicated to athletic director Ed McLaughlin before the season started.  “Well beyond his NCAA appearances or the numerous Rams playing professional soccer, he cemented his legacy with his passion for the young men he coached,” McLaughlin said.  With Giffard’s retirement, VCU men’s soccer enters a new chapter. As the Rams begin a nationwide

More than a sport: How VCU men’s rugby club built a culture centered on fitness and family

November 11, 2026

Ben Martindale, Sports Editor A small but rowdy crowd of rugby fans gathered at the University of Richmond intramural field to watch VCU men’s rugby club face their cross-town rival the University of Richmond on Oct. 23, for the teams’ annual Capital Cup match. The Rams took the field as an underdog vs. the Spiders, ranked No. 10 in the Division 3 National Collegiate Rugby coaches poll at the time of the match. VCU matched Richmond’s energy early as the two teams collided at midfield in a bid for possession of the ball. For those who have never watched a rugby match, calling it a contact sport only partially describes the sheer physicality of the spectacle taking place. Players from opposing teams hurtle towards each other at top speed in an attempt to either tackle or clear a path for the ball carrier, frequently causing jarring head-on collisions. As a result, some players compete each week while still actively recovering from injuries sustained in previous matches. For many of the players, including second-year student Lucas Kelly, toughness is in the blood. “Rugby really started with me because my mom played back when she was in college,” Kelly said. “She said

RECAP: How VCU did on the road this week

November 11, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer 11/6 – Women’s volleyball at Fordham University VCU women’s volleyball completed a reverse sweep comeback against Fordham, winning 3-2 after falling behind two sets to none. Third-year outside hitter Lara Del Core led the Rams with a match-high 18 kills, and third-year middle blocker Letizia Galli added 14 kills of her own, hitting .571. Third-year setter Cansin Sendir led the VCU offense through her playmaking, contributing 43 assists. After dropping the first two sets 25-15 and 28-26, VCU went on to win the next two sets 25-18 and 25-20 to force the deciding fifth set. In the final set, the Rams hit .476 on their way to a 15-9 victory, completing the comeback in New York.  11/7 – Women’s volleyball at Fordham University VCU women’s volleyball earned a 3-1 victory over Fordham, securing back-to-back wins. Third-year outside hitter Lara Del Core led VCU with 15 kills, 12 digs and two blocks. Fourth-year middle blocker Nina Boledovicova added 11 kills while hitting an efficient .526 on 19 attempts. Defensively, fourth-year libero Gabby Lapata led the team with 21 digs, while Boledovicova and third-year Letizia Galli each contributed five blocks. After losing the opening set 25-19, VCU responded

VCU field hockey defeated in A-10 tournament

November 11, 2026

Drew Clements, Staff Writer The VCU field hockey season came to an end Thursday afternoon, as the Rams lost 2-1 in overtime to the University of Richmond after a battle in the Atlantic 10 semifinal. Richmond captured momentum early in the game, earning a penalty corner in the first minute. Richmond controlled possession for most of the first quarter, scoring in the 11th minute to take a 1-0 lead. The second quarter went back and forth, with neither team able to break through on the attack. The only action was a Richmond shot saved by redshirt third-year goalkeeper Emma Clements. The Rams entered halftime down 1-0. “A goldfish has a six second memory,” Clements said. “I wrote it on my arm. I let myself have no more than six seconds to think about a goal, mistake or whatever it is. After six seconds is over it doesn’t matter anymore.” VCU applied more pressure in the third quarter, with both teams blocking and saving multiple shots. In the 38th minute VCU earned their first penalty corner of the game, and third-year Lucia Donati passed to first-year Julia Spohr, who scored to even up the match at 1-1. After a VCU green

Late goal ends VCU men’s soccer season against George Mason

November 4, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU men’s soccer fell to George Mason University 1-0 on Halloween at VCU Athletic Village, ending the Rams’ season with a late goal in the regular-season finale.  The loss came on Senior Day and head coach Dave Giffard’s final game, who later announced his retirement from college coaching on Nov. 2 after 17 seasons with the program, according to VCU Athletics. The Rams entered Saturday’s matchup with a chance to keep their Atlantic 10 Championship hopes alive with a win, but the loss brought VCU’s season to a close with a 2-10-3 overall record and a 2-5-1 record in A-10 play. Both teams remained scoreless for nearly the entire match. Fourth-year goalkeeper Trevor Maloney made two saves, including a stop on a George Mason attempt in the 78th minute, while the Rams similarly struggled to find a breakthrough against Patriots second-year goalkeeper Angel Hernandez. With the match tied in the 89th minute, George Mason scored off a rebound from the upright, giving the Patriots a 1-0 lead. VCU could not respond in the final minutes, closing out a difficult season with a loss at home. After the match, Giffard reflected on the challenges his team faced

VCU women’s basketball opens season with 67-43 win over Central Connecticut

November 3, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU women’s basketball opened the 2026-27 season with a 67-43 win over Central Connecticut State University tonight at the Siegel Center, starting new head coach Chelsea Banbury’s tenure off with a victory. The Rams enter this season looking to turn things around after a difficult 2025-26 campaign, where they finished 8-23 overall and 4-14 in Atlantic 10 conference play. Head Coach Banbury joins VCU after seven seasons as High Point University head coach, where she had a 140-79 career record, won four Big South regular-season championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances. VCU also welcomed several new faces to its roster, including fifth-year guard Macy Spencer and fourth-year guard Lexi Flemming who transferred from High Point, alongside four first-year players. Spencer, who was named to the A-10 Preseason Second Team, led the Rams with 22 points in her VCU debut. VCU’s defense forced six turnovers in the first quarter. Third-year guard Cyriah Griffin provided an early spark off the bench, getting to the free-throw line before creating a steal and converting an easy layup on the other end. The Rams continued to capitalize on their defensive pressure, building a 30-22 lead by halftime. Griffin finished as VCU’s

VCU men’s basketball dominates NJIT at home

November 11, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU wasted little time putting Saturday’s loss to Memphis behind them, dominating the paint on both ends of the floor in an 87-49 blowout against NJIT on Wednesday night at the Siegel Center. Third-year guard Blake Harper set the tone on the opening possession, tossing a lob to third-year forward Torey Alston for an early slam. From there, the Rams relentlessly attacked the rim.  VCU bullied its way to 20 points in the paint and 14-of-19 shooting at the free-throw line before halftime. Second-year guard Nyk Lewis stretched the floor by cashing in on his first three attempts from deep. Alston poured in 15 first-half points as the Rams took a commanding 43-28 lead into the locker room. Any hopes of a Highlanders comeback evaporated immediately after the break. Fourth-year forward Lazar Djokovic threw down a dunk to open the second half, and Lewis followed with his fourth three-pointer of the night to push the margin to 20. Much of VCU’s offense flowed through the frontcourt duo of Djokovic and Alston, who repeatedly punished NJIT around the basket and capitalized on defensive overreactions. “We definitely worked in [those cuts],” Alston said afterward. “Lazar has always told me to cut because so many people are collapsing on Lazar. So he’s told me to just cut, and he really found me today. So it worked out.” Defensively, the Rams tightened the screws even further after halftime. Head coach Phil Martelli Jr. challenged his group’s discipline at the break, and VCU responded by holding NJIT to just 21 second-half points. “I was really proud of the guys, the response in the second half,” Martelli said. With the outcome well in hand, VCU emptied its bench down the stretch. First-year guard Sammy Jackson capitalized on his extended run by burying an open three-pointer, capping a night defined by unselfish ball movement that saw the Rams dish out 21 assists to NJIT’s five. Alston finished with a game-high 19 points on 80% shooting, while Harper led the offense with five assists. VCU improves their record to 2-1 and gets a week off before heading west to face Santa Clara University on Nov. 19. Tipoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. EST on ESPN2.

Men’s soccer head coach retires after 17-year career

November 11, 2026

Devynn Alston, Staff Writer Last week, VCU men’s soccer head coach Dave Giffard announced his retirement from college coaching. After 17 years, Giffard is leaving a program defined by conference success, NCAA tournament appearances and player development.  Giffard finished his time at VCU with a 128-120-61 record and led the Rams to two Atlantic 10 regular-season championships, three NCAA tournament appearances and five appearances in the A-10 tournament championship match. Giffard’s impact extended beyond the field. In his retirement statement, he emphasized the importance of developing his players as both players and individuals.  Giffard stated in a press release from VCU Athletics, that once he himself became a soccer parent and became more involved with young players and families in the community, he discovered a new sense of purpose outside of college coaching.  He also expressed gratitude toward VCU’s administration for respecting his decision, which he had communicated to athletic director Ed McLaughlin before the season started.  “Well beyond his NCAA appearances or the numerous Rams playing professional soccer, he cemented his legacy with his passion for the young men he coached,” McLaughlin said.  With Giffard’s retirement, VCU men’s soccer enters a new chapter. As the Rams begin a nationwide

More than a sport: How VCU men’s rugby club built a culture centered on fitness and family

November 11, 2026

Ben Martindale, Sports Editor A small but rowdy crowd of rugby fans gathered at the University of Richmond intramural field to watch VCU men’s rugby club face their cross-town rival the University of Richmond on Oct. 23, for the teams’ annual Capital Cup match. The Rams took the field as an underdog vs. the Spiders, ranked No. 10 in the Division 3 National Collegiate Rugby coaches poll at the time of the match. VCU matched Richmond’s energy early as the two teams collided at midfield in a bid for possession of the ball. For those who have never watched a rugby match, calling it a contact sport only partially describes the sheer physicality of the spectacle taking place. Players from opposing teams hurtle towards each other at top speed in an attempt to either tackle or clear a path for the ball carrier, frequently causing jarring head-on collisions. As a result, some players compete each week while still actively recovering from injuries sustained in previous matches. For many of the players, including second-year student Lucas Kelly, toughness is in the blood. “Rugby really started with me because my mom played back when she was in college,” Kelly said. “She said

RECAP: How VCU did on the road this week

November 11, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer 11/6 – Women’s volleyball at Fordham University VCU women’s volleyball completed a reverse sweep comeback against Fordham, winning 3-2 after falling behind two sets to none. Third-year outside hitter Lara Del Core led the Rams with a match-high 18 kills, and third-year middle blocker Letizia Galli added 14 kills of her own, hitting .571. Third-year setter Cansin Sendir led the VCU offense through her playmaking, contributing 43 assists. After dropping the first two sets 25-15 and 28-26, VCU went on to win the next two sets 25-18 and 25-20 to force the deciding fifth set. In the final set, the Rams hit .476 on their way to a 15-9 victory, completing the comeback in New York.  11/7 – Women’s volleyball at Fordham University VCU women’s volleyball earned a 3-1 victory over Fordham, securing back-to-back wins. Third-year outside hitter Lara Del Core led VCU with 15 kills, 12 digs and two blocks. Fourth-year middle blocker Nina Boledovicova added 11 kills while hitting an efficient .526 on 19 attempts. Defensively, fourth-year libero Gabby Lapata led the team with 21 digs, while Boledovicova and third-year Letizia Galli each contributed five blocks. After losing the opening set 25-19, VCU responded

VCU field hockey defeated in A-10 tournament

Sports Editor November 11, 2026

Drew Clements, Staff Writer The VCU field hockey season came to an end Thursday afternoon, as the Rams lost 2-1 in overtime to the University of Richmond after a battle in the Atlantic 10 semifinal. Richmond captured momentum early in the game, earning a penalty corner in the first minute. Richmond controlled possession for most of the first quarter, scoring in the 11th minute to take a 1-0 lead. The second quarter went back and forth, with neither team able to break through on the attack. The only action was a Richmond shot saved by redshirt third-year goalkeeper Emma Clements. The Rams entered halftime down 1-0. “A goldfish has a six second memory,” Clements said. “I wrote it on my arm. I let myself have no more than six seconds to think about a goal, mistake or whatever it is. After six seconds is over it doesn’t matter anymore.” VCU applied more pressure in the third quarter, with both teams blocking and saving multiple shots. In the 38th minute VCU earned their first penalty corner of the game, and third-year Lucia Donati passed to first-year Julia Spohr, who scored to even up the match at 1-1. After a VCU green

Late goal ends VCU men’s soccer season against George Mason

Sports Editor November 4, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU men’s soccer fell to George Mason University 1-0 on Halloween at VCU Athletic Village, ending the Rams’ season with a late goal in the regular-season finale.  The loss came on Senior Day and head coach Dave Giffard’s final game, who later announced his retirement from college coaching on Nov. 2 after 17 seasons with the program, according to VCU Athletics. The Rams entered Saturday’s matchup with a chance to keep their Atlantic 10 Championship hopes alive with a win, but the loss brought VCU’s season to a close with a 2-10-3 overall record and a 2-5-1 record in A-10 play. Both teams remained scoreless for nearly the entire match. Fourth-year goalkeeper Trevor Maloney made two saves, including a stop on a George Mason attempt in the 78th minute, while the Rams similarly struggled to find a breakthrough against Patriots second-year goalkeeper Angel Hernandez. With the match tied in the 89th minute, George Mason scored off a rebound from the upright, giving the Patriots a 1-0 lead. VCU could not respond in the final minutes, closing out a difficult season with a loss at home. After the match, Giffard reflected on the challenges his team faced

VCU women’s basketball opens season with 67-43 win over Central Connecticut

Sports Editor November 3, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU women’s basketball opened the 2026-27 season with a 67-43 win over Central Connecticut State University tonight at the Siegel Center, starting new head coach Chelsea Banbury’s tenure off with a victory. The Rams enter this season looking to turn things around after a difficult 2025-26 campaign, where they finished 8-23 overall and 4-14 in Atlantic 10 conference play. Head Coach Banbury joins VCU after seven seasons as High Point University head coach, where she had a 140-79 career record, won four Big South regular-season championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances. VCU also welcomed several new faces to its roster, including fifth-year guard Macy Spencer and fourth-year guard Lexi Flemming who transferred from High Point, alongside four first-year players. Spencer, who was named to the A-10 Preseason Second Team, led the Rams with 22 points in her VCU debut. VCU’s defense forced six turnovers in the first quarter. Third-year guard Cyriah Griffin provided an early spark off the bench, getting to the free-throw line before creating a steal and converting an easy layup on the other end. The Rams continued to capitalize on their defensive pressure, building a 30-22 lead by halftime. Griffin finished as VCU’s

VCU field hockey defeated in A-10 tournament

November 11, 2026

Drew Clements, Staff Writer The VCU field hockey season came to an end Thursday afternoon, as the Rams lost 2-1 in overtime to the University of Richmond after a battle in the Atlantic 10 semifinal. Richmond captured momentum early in the game, earning a penalty corner in the first minute. Richmond controlled possession for most of the first quarter, scoring in the 11th minute to take a 1-0 lead. The second quarter went back and forth, with neither team able to break through on the attack. The only action was a Richmond shot saved by redshirt third-year goalkeeper Emma Clements. The Rams entered halftime down 1-0. “A goldfish has a six second memory,” Clements said. “I wrote it on my arm. I let myself have no more than six seconds to think about a goal, mistake or whatever it is. After six seconds is over it doesn’t matter anymore.” VCU applied more pressure in the third quarter, with both teams blocking and saving multiple shots. In the 38th minute VCU earned their first penalty corner of the game, and third-year Lucia Donati passed to first-year Julia Spohr, who scored to even up the match at 1-1. After a VCU green

Late goal ends VCU men’s soccer season against George Mason

November 4, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU men’s soccer fell to George Mason University 1-0 on Halloween at VCU Athletic Village, ending the Rams’ season with a late goal in the regular-season finale.  The loss came on Senior Day and head coach Dave Giffard’s final game, who later announced his retirement from college coaching on Nov. 2 after 17 seasons with the program, according to VCU Athletics. The Rams entered Saturday’s matchup with a chance to keep their Atlantic 10 Championship hopes alive with a win, but the loss brought VCU’s season to a close with a 2-10-3 overall record and a 2-5-1 record in A-10 play. Both teams remained scoreless for nearly the entire match. Fourth-year goalkeeper Trevor Maloney made two saves, including a stop on a George Mason attempt in the 78th minute, while the Rams similarly struggled to find a breakthrough against Patriots second-year goalkeeper Angel Hernandez. With the match tied in the 89th minute, George Mason scored off a rebound from the upright, giving the Patriots a 1-0 lead. VCU could not respond in the final minutes, closing out a difficult season with a loss at home. After the match, Giffard reflected on the challenges his team faced

VCU women’s basketball opens season with 67-43 win over Central Connecticut

November 3, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU women’s basketball opened the 2026-27 season with a 67-43 win over Central Connecticut State University tonight at the Siegel Center, starting new head coach Chelsea Banbury’s tenure off with a victory. The Rams enter this season looking to turn things around after a difficult 2025-26 campaign, where they finished 8-23 overall and 4-14 in Atlantic 10 conference play. Head Coach Banbury joins VCU after seven seasons as High Point University head coach, where she had a 140-79 career record, won four Big South regular-season championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances. VCU also welcomed several new faces to its roster, including fifth-year guard Macy Spencer and fourth-year guard Lexi Flemming who transferred from High Point, alongside four first-year players. Spencer, who was named to the A-10 Preseason Second Team, led the Rams with 22 points in her VCU debut. VCU’s defense forced six turnovers in the first quarter. Third-year guard Cyriah Griffin provided an early spark off the bench, getting to the free-throw line before creating a steal and converting an easy layup on the other end. The Rams continued to capitalize on their defensive pressure, building a 30-22 lead by halftime. Griffin finished as VCU’s

VCU field hockey falls to Richmond in season finale

November 3, 2026

Drew Clements, Staff Writer The VCU Rams dropped the regular season finale to the University of Richmond, 4-1, Friday evening at Crenshaw Field in Richmond. The first quarter kicked off with pressure from Richmond. VCU deflected an early shot out of bounds. Possession went back and forth until third-year goalkeeper Emma Clements made a diving save to keep Richmond off the board. Richmond continued their aggressive play in the second quarter, earning several penalty corners within the first few minutes. VCU fended off multiple shots, but with 7:25 remaining in the first half, the Spiders found the net to open the scoring off a rebound from a penalty corner. Richmond earned three more corners in the second quarter, and Clements made multiple saves and blocks to keep the deficit at 1-0. Early in the second half, Richmond earned three consecutive penalty corners, all saved or blocked, before Richmond was called for a yellow card. VCU earned a couple corners of their own but failed to convert. Eventually Richmond capitalized on a corner and scored with under two minutes to go in the third quarter to extend their lead to 2-0. To kick off the fourth quarter, second-year Hannah Zimmerman found

VCU bests Little Rock in season opener

November 2, 2026

Devynn Alston, Staff Writer VCU men’s basketball opened their 2026-2027 campaign with an 82-72 victory over the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Monday night at Siegel Center. The Rams won the tip and jumped out to an early 7-2 lead over the Trojans. Little Rock hit two three-point shots to cut the deficit to one seven minutes into the opening half. With 12 minutes left in the first half, Little Rock committed their seventh foul, putting VCU in the bonus for the rest of the half. VCU third-year forward Torey Alston knocked down a pair of free throws to increase VCU’s lead  to 16-12. Throughout the first half, the Rams were aggressive on the offensive end. The Rams ended the half shooting 20 free throws, totaling 48 by the end of the game.   Fourth-year guard Tyrell Ward made an and-one layup to give the Rams a seven-point lead. With eight minutes left in the first half, Little Rock cut the lead to four, making the score 23-19.  After a steal by second-year guard Nyk Lewis, third-year guard Brandon Jennings got put on the line and increased VCU’s score to six, 27-21.  Alston increased the Rams’ lead to eight points

VCU women’s soccer snaps losing streak in scoreless draw against Loyola Chicago in home finale

October 28, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU women’s soccer tied 0-0 against Loyola University Chicago and snapped their six-game losing streak on Sunday at the VCU Athletic Village in the Rams’ final home game of the season. The Rams battled Loyola Chicago through a back-and-forth contest, with both teams finding opportunities in the midfield but struggling to turn their attacking runs into goals. Fourth-year goalkeeper Mia Pongratz helped preserve the draw with four saves, posting her second shutout of the season. The performance brought her career total to 119 saves, moving her into 10th place in VCU women’s soccer program history. “It just means a lot to me that I was able to give a lot back to a program that’s given so much to me these past four years,” Pongratz said. “I’m very, very proud to do it with this team too.” Loyola Chicago tested Pongratz early, forcing a save in the fourth minute. The Ramblers outshot VCU 8-5 in the first half, but the Rams held firm defensively to enter the break scoreless. VCU found more success in creating opportunities after halftime, putting three shots on goal in the final 10 minutes. However, fourth-year Loyola Chicago goalkeeper Allison Deardorff kept

VCU field hockey falls in penalty shootout

October 28, 2026

Drew Clements, Staff Writer After 75 minutes of scoreless field hockey, VCU lost to St. Joseph’s University in penalties Friday at Cary St. Field, dropping their record to 8-8 on the season. Throughout the first quarter, both teams exchanged shot attempts, although each side struggled to create open opportunities. Third-year goalkeeper Emma Clements set the tone for the game, fighting off early pressure from St. Joe’s.  Clements’ performance for the Rams stood out, making several diving blocks and kick-saves throughout the game to keep the score knotted. VCU head coach Stacey Bean applauded the performance in goal. “I thought our penalty corner defense was outstanding today, led by Emma in goal there,” Bean said. “But we’ve gotta find a way to put a little bit of pressure on the opponent and earn a corner ourselves.” The game was even throughout the first half and into the second, even after VCU second-year Emily Foerster was forced out for 10 minutes with a yellow card. After four quarters with no goals, the game went into overtime. St. Joe’s was aggressive and earned multiple penalty corners, but neither team managed to break the tie. Third-year Cameron Butler said the Rams stayed resilient and

VCU falls to La Salle in hard fought game

October 14, 2026 No Comments

Devynn Alston, Staff Writer VCU women’s soccer fell to La Salle University 5-2 on Sunday afternoon, as the Explorers’ early scoring and second-half offense proved