Posted by: Marc Mullen
RICHMOND, Va. - Taking on the hosts of the VCU/Ewing Sports Invitational, the Rams used two first-half goals to propel them to the 2-0 victory over the La Salle University Women's Soccer team Sunday afternoon at Sports Backers Stadium on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth.
Virginia Commonwealth (3-2-1) scored its first goal 18:58 into the game on a 15-yard strike by Hayley Moorwood. Stephanie Power registered an assist on Moorwood's third goal of the young season.
The Rams added a second goal in the 33rd minute as Francesca Gioeli's shot from 15 yards out snuck in just inside the right post. Setting up the goal and registering an assist on the play was Donna Morwarin.
The Explorers were again outshot in the game 24-13, but did have six corner kicks in contest to the Rams four. Lauren Malizia made 11 saves for the Explorers, while VCU netminder Lauren Hardison stopped four shots.
Two of the Explorers were named to the All-Tournament team, Jenna Guagenti and Shelby Reese. The rest of the team included Danielle Collins (W&M), the tourney MVP, Meghan Walker (W&M), Anna Young (W&M), Katie Hogwood (W&M), Brittany Pearsall (CU), Franny Iacuzzi (CU), Jackie Burch (CU), Hardison (VCU), Gioeli (VCU), and Pernilla Jansson (VCU).
La Salle (1-5) will finally play back in Philadelphia with a three-game homestand starting with Manhattan, next Sunday at 1 PM, then a Friday-Sunday (9/22-24) weekend against Fairleigh Dickinson, 7 PM, and Lehigh, 1 PM.
