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Virginia Commonwealth University

#LetsGoVCU
Gerardo Castillo kick
2
Winner VCU VCU (1-0-0, 0-0-0)
1
Wake Forest WFU (0-1-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
VCU VCU
(1-0-0, 0-0-0)
2
Final
1
Wake Forest WFU
(0-1-0, 0-0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
VCU VCU 1 1 2
Wake Forest WFU 1 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

STRIKES BY CASTILLO, SALMERON POWER VCU PAST RANKED WAKE FOREST

Score: VCU 2, #15/19 Wake Forest 1
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C. (Spry Stadium)
Records: VCU 1-0, Wake Forest 0-1
 
The short story: Junior Gerardo Castillo supplied a late-night stunner, while the VCU defense and senior keeper John Ermini bottled up the Wake Forest attack as the Rams toppled the 15th-ranked Demon Deacons in Thursday night's season-opener in Winston-Salem.
 
"It was a typical opening night in college soccer. We had some things that we didn't do as well as we wanted or will need to as we go through the season, but I was proud of the boys for getting a tough three points on the road against a quality opponent. There will be a lot to learn from the game, as our press was broken much too easily and too often by a team who is very good with the ball. We had stretches where we controlled the game with the ball but certainly not enough, and we didn't have much control of the game without the ball the way we will eventually need to. But all that being said, we'll take the win and move on." – VCU Head Coach Dave Giffard
 
PITCH SIDE
  • VCU Goals: Andrey Salmeron ('26) and Castillo ('83)
  • Each team managed nine shots on goal, but VCU owned a 3-0 advantage in corner kick opportunities and largely limited the Demon Deacons to long-range tries
  • Ermini, making his 29th consecutive start for the Rams, recorded one save in goal for VCU
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • In the 82nd minute, VCU broke through as Castillo delivered the heroics. The junior from San Jose, Costa Rica collected a ball 35 yards out, dribbled into an opening and blasted a low, left-footed liner to the far post to give the Rams the lead for good
  • The Rams dug out of an early deficit in the 26th minute when Salmeron – the 2023 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year -- cut left, split two defenders and drove a low, left-footed touch from 16 yards out into the near corner, past a diving Wake Forest keeper, for the fourth goal of his young career
  • The Demon Deacons got on the board first on a 21st-minute strike by Jose Perez
NEXT UP
VCU open the home portion of its schedule when it hosts longtime intrastate rival Old Dominion on Monday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. at Sports Backers Stadium.
 
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