August 28, 2009

RAMS DROP 2-1 DECISION TO VIRGINIA TECH IN RAIN-SOAKED EXHIBITION MATCH

RICHMOND, Va. – In their final tune-up for the 2009 regular season, the Virginia Commonwealth University men’s soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to instate rival Virginia Tech in a rain-soaked exhibition match Friday night at Sports Backers Stadium.

“This is what exhibition games are for as it gives us a chance to figure out where we are as a team,” said VCU head coach Tim O’Sullivan.  “It’s disappointing because out of our three exhibition games, this was probably our worst of the three performances.  We now have to figure out the rest of the pieces as we head into the regular season.”

Each team created scoring opportunities throughout the game as VCU held a slim 7-6 advantage in shots during the opening period.

Virginia Tech, however, scored first in the 16th minute as James Shupp broke loose down the far right sideline and sent a crosser through the box to a driving Emmanuel Akogyeram who found the right side of the net.

The Rams knotted the score at 1-1 less than 10 minutes later when Romario Blandon (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) found a cutting James Neighbour (Liphook, England) in the middle off a corner kick at 24:39.  Neighbour received the pass and sent a shot past a diving Stefan Caulfield.

Akogyeram struck again in the 67th minute when he drove down the right sideline and used fancy footwork to sneak through the VCU defense and sent a left footed shot into the bottom right of the goal.

“It’s always been a trademark of VCU teams in that we keep possession and for whatever reason tonight, that was difficult,” O’Sullivan said of the team’s struggle to control the ball at times against the Hokies.  “[That style of play] gets us stretched out and a lot of things broke down on top of that.

“We’ll roll up our sleeves tomorrow to get the picture of what is important for our team right now and we’ll see how [the players] respond.”

Newcomer Carlos Picado (San Jose, Costa Rica) displayed a flash on offense leading VCU with three shots, two on goal, but Neighbour was the only Ram to find the back of the net.

Virginia Tech outshot VCU 15-11, while the Black and Gold held a 6-5 advantage in corners.