AMHERST — Despite a well-played game on senior day, the UMass women’s soccer team fell, 1-0, to VCU at Rudd Field, Sunday afternoon.
The Minutewomen (10-4-1, 5-2-1 Atlantic 10) did secure their spot in the postseason. UMass clinched one of eight conference tournament berths when La Salle lost over the weekend.
UMass and VCU battled throughout a scoreless first half, matching up evenly as both missed a couple of chances. Early in the second half, UMass midfielder Signe Schioldan had a shot high on net, but VCU goalkeeper Audrey Sanderson made a leaping punch save.
“Yeah, I was hoping it dropped in,” senior defender Paige Koslowski said. “That was a really good save.”
Instead, UMass fell behind by one just a few minutes later when a chip shot from the far flank by Samantha Jerabek got over the head of goalkeeper Peyton Ryan.
“We had the ball most of the half, we outshot them by a lot, I think it’s just one of the unlucky situations where they get a lucky goal and then we don’t register one,” senior forward Erin Doster said.
Don’t often tweet highlights involving the other side, but this is how close Sini Laaksonen’s shot came to going in. Great save by VCU keeper Audrey Sanderson. pic.twitter.com/lo7agCuqHM
— UMass Women’s Soccer (@UMassWSoccer) October 14, 2018
Kozlowski shared a similar sentiment.
“I think in the first half we came out a little slow, but definitely in the second half we picked it up and basically had the ball the whole time, they got lucky with that goal,” she said. “But we played really well, so we’re happy, not happy with the result, but happy with how we played.”
UMass coach Jason Dowiak was also pleased with his team’s performance.
“I thought we played well, really well,” he said. “Started maybe a little slow and VCU is known for coming out and being really aggressive and their high-press mentality, but we weathered that and our girls broke the pressure and we created chances. I don’t know how the ball didn’t go in the net today, honestly. We definitely created the number of chances and the quality of chances where we would have expected a goal.”
The team’s seniors — Doster, Kozlowski, Jenna Thomas, Ryan, Julia Taffuri, and Ari Comendul — were all honored before the game.
“I think it’s really cool and I just think it’s just something that we want to share with the classes that came before us,” Doster said. “We’ve had a lot of alumni who didn’t go out on a good year congratulate us on a good season and I really think as much as it is for the current players and for our senior class, it’s just as much for them.”
UMass will host Saint Louis Thursday at 3 p.m.