Score: VCU 3, Rhode Island 1
Location: Kingston, R.I. (URI Soccer Complex)
Records: VCU 3-5-5 (3-1-2), Rhode Island 4-6-3 (1-4-1)
 
THE SHORT STORY: Three second half goals from Damian Gallegos, Papa Toure and Andres Rodriguez propelled VCU Men's Soccer into third place in the Atlantic 10 following its 3-1 win at Rhode Island on Saturday night.
 
"It was a big-time result for the boys tonight in a place that has been tough for us to travel to and get results historically," said Head Coach Dave Giffard. "The win keeps everything in play for us that we set as goals at the start of the season and now we get ready for another huge game next Saturday at George Mason."
 
PITCH SIDE 

• All four goals in the match were scored in the second half
• Gallegos scored his second goal (64') of the season, and assisted on Rodriguez's 90th minute goal to finish with a team-high three points
• Toure's 88th minute goal, his second of the season, was assisted by William Hitchcock and Andrey Salmeron
• Rodriguez's goal was the first of his career and came in the 90th minute
• Gerardo Castillo joined Gallegos on assisting Rodriguez's goal, giving him his team high third assist of the season
• John Ermini made six saves, facing seven shots
• VCU's three goals are the most in an Atlantic 10 road match since netting three at Saint Joseph's on Oct. 21, 2017
• The three goals are the most goals scored for the Rams this season
• VCU scored three goals in a match for the first time since winning 3-1 vs. George Mason on Oct. 22, 2022
• With the win, VCU moves into third place in the Atlantic 10 standings, pulling even with Loyola Chicago, each sitting at 11 points 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• During the first half, both sides matched each other with shots on goal as Ermini made four saves
• Ermini got saves in the eighth, 13th, 26th and 31st minutes
• The Rams got their first shot on goal in the 19th minute when Kanagwa forced Rhode Island's Edu Rodriguez to make a save in the top right
• Salmeron forced a Rhode Island save in the 36th minute
• And in the final five minutes, VCU got shots on goal from Castillo (41') and Hitchcock (45') to set the tone heading into the break with the score at 0-0
• VCU struck first in the 64th minute when Gallegos put a pass from Kanagwa past Rhode Island's Rodriguez to put the Rams up 1-0
• In the 83rd minute Rhode Island equalized to make it 1-1
• But the Rams were not phased and went at Rhode Island again and in the 88th minute VCU retook the lead
• Toure sent a ball past Rhode Island's Rodriguez on passes from Hitchcock and Salmeron for the eventual game winner, the first game winner of his career
• In the 90th minute, Rodriguez added one more for the road, netting his first career goal on assists from Castillo and Gallegos to extend VCU's lead to 3-1
• And with the final whistle, the 3-1 win for VCU blasted the Rams into third-place in the conference with a pair of A-10 matches remaining

 
UP NEXT: VCU remains on the road with an A-10 match up at George Mason on Oct. 21, before heading to UNC-Greensboro on Oct. 25. The Rams then return home for senior day when they host A-10 foe St. Bonaventure in the regular season finale.