VCU women’s soccer extends unbeaten streak
Free Press staff report | 10/3/2024, 6 p.m.
The Virgnia Commonwealth University Women’s Soccer team extended their unbeaten streak to five games after a 1-1 draw against St. Bonaventure in Atlantic 10 play on Sunday at Sports Backers Stadium. VCU remains undefeated in conference action with a 1-0-3 record.
VCU, now with a 2-6-3 overall record, struck early when Y-Van Nguyen scored her second goal of the season in the second minute, becoming the second Ram to record multiple goals this year. St. Bonaventure’s Evie Underhill responded in the 29th minute to level the score, sending the game into a deadlock that would last through the final whistle.
The Rams recorded a season-high 17 shots, with Milica Bulatovic leading the charge with four. VCU dominated possession, holding 51% of the ball, though only 11% of that time was spent in its defensive zone. In goal, sophomore Mia Pongratz made her third appearance, recording her first save of the season after replacing Allison Karpovich with 16 minutes left in the match. Despite several late attempts, including Bulatovic’s last shot on target in the 83rd minute, VCU was unable to break through a resolute St. Bonaventure defense that blocked five consecutive shots in the final 15 minutes.
Pongratz came up big with a critical save in the 88th minute, denying St. Bonaventure’s Mahelie Barbeau in the final attempt of the match. The result leaves VCU with a five-game unbeaten streak, their longest since Head Coach Lindsey Martin’s squad went 14 games without a loss in 2022.
VCU will open its October schedule with a home match against Loyola Chicago at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at Sports Backers Stadium. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.