October 21, 2009

VCU REGISTERS FIRST CAA WIN WITH 3-0 SHUTOUT AGAINST GEORGIA STATE
Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – It’s been a long month for the Virginia Commonwealth University men’s soccer team.  Five of the Rams’ last eight games – six losses and two ties – have been decided by a single goal.

The tide finally shifted in the Ram’s favor on Wednesday as VCU posted its second shutout of the season with a 3-0 victory against Colonial Athletic Association foe Georgia State at Sports Backers Stadium. 

“It’s just great to see the guys be rewarded for working so hard,” said VCU head coach Tim O’Sullivan.  “We have been doing a lot of things right [over the last month of the season], but a lot of times we have not been getting rewarded.” 

The Rams controlled possession for the majority of the first half, outshooting the Panthers 7-3, but couldn’t find the net.

“The first 30 minutes were really good for us, but we just couldn’t figure out a way to get that first goal,” O’Sullivan said.  “The last 15 minutes [of the first half] got away a little bit, but there are always those kinds of peaks and valleys in college soccer.” 

VCU increased its intensity and came out strong in the second half, scoring three goals in an 11-minute span.

Junior Romario Blandon found an open look from 11 yards out, but Georgia State goalkeeper Vincent Foermer, who registered a game-high six saves, deflected the shot before Alberto Fonseca fired the rebound between the pipes to give VCU a 1-0 advantage in the 47th minute.

Two minutes later, Carlos Picado was taken down in the box following a breakaway and slipped his penalty kick attempt into the lower right of the goal to give the Rams a two-score advantage.

The VCU offense wasn’t finished as Thomas Huepper found senior Philipp Daldrup in front of the net in the 58th minute.  The cutting Daldrup sent a header in the upper left corner, extending the Rams’ lead to 3-0.

“We came out pretty sharp in the second half, said O’Sullivan.  “Our objective at halftime was to get on them early, so that was also good to see as we were able to score.”

Georgia State struggled to generate offense for much of the contest as VCU held a 20-13 margin in shots, but the Panthers made a push with a furry of strikes late in the match.