With 60 straight games won against Atlantic 10 competition, it was assumed that Massachusetts’ biggest hurdle to extending its NCAA record streak would be getting by that team from Richmond.
No, not the Spiders. The VCU Rams.
The streak stretched back nearly 3,000 days to April 2010. It finally came to an end because third-year program VCU (7-9, 5-3 Atlantic 10) broke the hex and took down the Minutewomen (12-4, 7-1 Atlantic 10), by the score of 17-16 on Sunday.
Here’s how remarkable the victory was.
Massachusetts started the streak six years before the Rams’ program even existed. Plus, UMass had won 12 more games (61) than VCU had ever played as a program (49) before Sunday’s stunner.
The Atlantic 10’s newest program seemed one of the least likely teams to knock off UMass for the first time in eight years. As coach Jen O’Brien explained, their inexperience was why they were the perfect team to pull off the upset of the year.
“Being new, we didn’t have any preconceived notions of doing anything in conference against [UMass],” O’Brien said. “I think it takes a little bit of naiveté. We didn’t look at that streak for eight years. We’re young. We’re not too familiar with the history of the A-10, so [we] didn’t have it in our heads.”
Many things aligned for well for VCU when it comes to scheduling. The Rams hosted Senior Day for its first class that made the program, playing their third home game in four outings. Conversely, UMass was on the road for its fourth straight game, the third of which was an emotional 17-13 win over Richmond, which was also undefeated in A-10 play at the time.
What didn’t seem to align for VCU was a stinging 13-12 loss to La Salle, which broke a four-game winning streak and put the team’s chances at an A-10 Tournament berth in peril. To O’Brien, who was made well aware of UMass’ record streak by her husband Steve, her good feelings that had permeated for weeks persisted.
“It wasn’t just the game [on Sunday],” O’Brien said. “It’s been a feeling we’ve had the past few games. It’s an increased level of confidence our players have demonstrated that we hadn’t seen out of them yet. I think that it’s just very weird and eerie to look at each other and say, ‘We’re going to do that,’ and all the heads are nodding back.”
The Rams jumped from the opening draw, scoring three goals in the first four minutes. Despite UMass righting the ship to score 14 of the next 20 goals for a five-goal margin with 20 minutes to play, it was VCU that turned up the intensity.
Sparked by a four-goal spurt from leading scorers Sky Hyatt and Molly Barcikowski, Clare Murphy polished off a 7-1 run with 21 seconds left for what seemed to be the stunning game-winning goal.
Then UMass scored with one second left.
Overtime.
VCU ATHLETICS
Molly Barcikowski jumps for joy, celebrating her game-winning goal against UMass in VCU's 17-16 overtime victory.
VCU was tasked to play its fourth straight game to be decided by a goal, and the Rams had some history on their side.
“We had a lot of confidence from our last overtime game against Davidson,” said O’Brien. “We knew we could do this. I don’t know if it’s false confidence, that we’re all in this, and we’re gonna get this done. It’s sort of fake it until we make it. It has worked out for us.”
The previous week, Barcikowski poured in the overtime winner at Davidson that gave VCU its fourth straight conference win after a disappointing 0-2 start to A-10 play. On Sunday, she reprised the winning role by connecting on her free-position chance to seal the program’s most impressive victory.
“I knew [she was going to make] it.” O’Brien said. “You know every day what you’re getting from her. She comes to practice, she’s quiet and ready to go. She’s cool, and steady and relaxed. You know she’s going to get the job done.”
Barcikowski’s seven points on five goals and two assists were one better than Hyatt’s six, which were all scored by goal. Hyatt, one of the four seniors honored in pregame ceremonies, also pulled down a team-high five draw controls on a day where UMass’s Kiley Anderson grabbed 12 of the Minutewomen’s 25 controls.
VCU’s defense was under constant pressure as UMass launched 45 shots, 17 of which were saved by junior Ria Peralta. What aided VCU’s upset bid was Peralta’s vision in leading the team’s breakout and her team’s ability to clear, going 24-for-28 on the afternoon.
“The timing of her saves was even more important than the number that she made,” O’Brien said of Peralta. “She’s super fiery. She makes saves that she shouldn’t make and launches a really good clear.”
As for Hyatt, she rose to an occasion that her coach said was once too much for her.
“She’s very self-aware,” O’Brien noted. “Before [this year,] she got tight when she realized she was nervous, whereas [Sunday] she recognized it and used [the nerves] to play it like every other game. That maturity factor was important.”
A single regular season match against in-state foe George Mason remains before the Atlantic 10 Tournament, which is being hosted across town at the University of Richmond. O’Brien will remind her team that Sunday’s game, while significant, is not a defining victory.
“We have to appreciate that this is a big step and milestone for what it is,” O’Brien said. “We can’t push our luck too much if we want to see improvement. Another win is important. We want to achieve more. We still have things to accomplish and that means making noise in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. If not this year, maybe next year.”
That feeling when you secure your first A-10 tournament berth and snap an NCAA record A-10 winning streak.#LetsGoVCU #Hungry pic.twitter.com/X1icBTCGSo
— VCU Women's Lacrosse (@VCU_Lacrosse) April 23, 2018