Score: #14 Saint Louis 4, (RV) VCU 1
Location: Richmond, Va. (Sports Backers Stadium)
Records: (RV) VCU 7-4-1 (3-2-0 Atlantic 10), #14 Saint Louis 9-0-3 (5-0-0 A-10)
 
The short story: Sophomore midfielder Celio Pompeu netted a goal for the Rams, but the undefeated Billikens prevailed in a match-up of the A-10's top two teams.
 
QUICK FACTS

• Pompeu's goal was his fourth of the season, tied with Damian Gallegos for the most on the VCU roster.
• The Fortaleza, Brazil, native leads the Rams with 15 points in 2021.
• VCU held a 56%-44% advantage in possession, but Saint Louis occupied the attacking third for the majority of their time on the ball.
• The Billikens registered a 13-12 advantage in total shots, a 6-4 edge in shots on goal, and took three corner kicks compared to VCU's one.
• SLU remains at the top of the A-10 table with 15 points, while VCU is tied for second place with nine.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Pompeu had the first quality scoring chance for the Rams in the ninth minute, turning around a Billiken defender and firing a shot wide.
• Saint Louis took the lead in the 30th minute when Simon Becher headed home John Klein's free kick.
• Two minutes later, redshirt junior midfielder Pierre Fiorre Mane drilled a header on frame from a Pompeu cross, forcing a save.
• The Billikens doubled their lead in the 37th minute, scoring on a free kick again through Mujeeb Murana, who headed in a goal from Kevin Komodi's service.
• The Rams pulled one back early in the second half, as Pompeu cut inside on his right foot and curled a shot that went through the legs of graduate forward Pablo Varela Fraga and tucked inside the far post.
• SLU regained their two-goal lead in the 60th minute, as John Klein finished a rebound from a saved Isaiah Parker shot at the end of a Billiken breakaway.
• Komodi capped off the scoring in the 72nd minute, scoring off an assist from Becher.

 
QUOTING HEAD COACH DAVE GIFFARD
"I said it the other night after we won 4-1 vs. Duquesne: goals change games. Tonight, it went the other way. Aspects of our performance were very good, but we made some mistakes that are in us as a team, but we haven't paid for before, and Saint Louis is a good team with guys who finish chances, and that is what they did tonight.
 
After giving up two set piece goals in the first half, we got it back to 2-1 right out of halftime and I thought we would find a way to get the next one and win the game, and then we made two enormous errors that lead to the third and fourth goals and that ended it.
 
All credit to SLU for the win, but we have to do better in those moments if you want results at the time of year when things are won and lost. Now we get a week to train for the first time in a while, and try and learn from some of our mistakes."
 
UP NEXT
VCU faces in-state A-10 rival George Mason in Fairfax, Va. in a week's time, on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.