George Washington University Athletics
GW Women's Soccer Continues Conference Play at VCU, Richmond
10/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
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Oct. 14, 2015
GW at VCU - Thursday, 7 p.m.: Live Stats | Live Video
GW at Richmond - Sunday, 1 p.m.: Live Stats | Live Video
The Colonials (9-4-0, 4-0-0 A-10) - entering the week as the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region's seventh-ranked squad - are off to their best conference start since 1998, when GW began A-10 play with six consecutive victories. The Buff and Blue also bring a seven-match win streak into Thursday's game - the longest streak since 2010's matching feat. VCU (6-6-1, 4-0-0 A-10), in the midst of a six-game unbeaten streak, sits with GW atop the conference standings as the only other squad without a loss or tie in league play. Richmond (4-7-1, 2-1-1 A-10) enters the week in sixth place and will take on Saint Joseph's on Thursday before hosting the Colonials on Sunday.
GW triumphed over La Salle, 2-1 (OT), on Thursday as freshman Sofia Pavon tallied the gamewinner on a penalty kick in the first overtime to earn her second A-10 Rookie of the Week nod and her fourth goal of the season. The Colonials then recorded their seventh shutout of the season on Sunday in a 1-0 victory over Massachusetts on redshirt-senior Nicole Belfonti's second score of the season.
Junior MacKenzie Cowley leads the Buff and Blue with a career-high tying seven goals, while Pavon (4g, 1a), Belfonti (2g, 2a) and junior Lina Proska (2g, 1a) have each tallied multiple goals for the Colonials.
Between the posts, redshirt-sophomore Miranda Horn has set aside 42 shots while starting 12 of GW's 13 games this season. Horn ranks fourth in the conference with a 1.05 goals-against average on the year.
Last week, VCU downed Fordham, 3-2 (OT), before defeating Dayton, also by a score of 3-2. The Rams rank second in the conference with 74 saves, led by keeper Emma Kruse's 70 stops.
Reigning A-10 Player of the Week Kailyn Slade leads the Rams with 17 points (7g, 3a) on the season, while Julia Suarez's 11 points (4g, 3a) and Sharon Wojclk's 10 points (4g, 2a) round out VCU's top offensive performers. Six of Slade's goals have come in conference play on a pair of hat trick efforts against Davidson and Fordham. The Rams have outscored opponents 18-7 during their six-game unbeaten streak.
Richmond split a pair of matches last week, falling to Saint Louis, 2-1, on Thursday before defeating Rhode Island, 3-2, on Sunday. Ashley Riefner leads the squad with 12 points (3g, 6a) and is followed by Lexi Prillman's eight points (3g, 2a).
Between the posts, Katie Brennan has tallied a team-best 33 saves in eight starts. and Jessica Stanfill has pitched in 14 saves while making four starts for the Spiders.
The Colonials trail in the all-time series with VCU, 0-2-1, falling in a close, 1-0, decision a year ago. The Colonials defeated Richmond, 1-0, on a first half gamewinner by senior Kristi Abbate last season, but trail in the all-time series, 5-7-1.
Thursday's kick-off is slated for 7 p.m. at VCU's Sports Backers Stadium, while Sunday's contest will begin at 1 p.m. at Richmond's E. Claiborne Robins Stadium.
