Box Score: RV VCU 2, No. 15/3 Penn 0
Location: Richmond, Va. / Sports Backers Stadium
Records:  VCU (3-1-2), Penn (4-1)
 
THE SHORT STORY: Taking down 15^th-ranked Penn in dominant fashion, the Rams spoiled the Quakers' previously-undefeated record for their second victory against a national top-15 team. Separated by just two minutes, one on each side of the half, Andres Rodriguez and Sulaiman Abdul-Mateen combined for a pair of goals on a Quakers team which had allowed just one goal over its first four games.
 
PITCH SIDE

• VCU earned victories over two top 25 nationally ranked opponents for the first time since 2021
• The Rams were the first team to take down Penn in 2024, recording the most goals (2) and shots (15) and posting the highest shot percentage (.267) among any of the Quakers' 2024 opponents
• VCU limited visiting Penn to its fewest shots on goal (3) and lowest shot on goal percentage (.214) of the season
• Andres Rodriguez made a statement olimipco-style goal with just four seconds left in the first half for his first of the season
• Sulaiman Abdul-Mateen scored his first career goal with the 47^th-minute rebounder
• With a three-save performance in the net, John Ermini posted the 12^th shutout of his career and his first of the season
• Papa Toure added a pair of shots on goal and Damian Gallegos led the Rams with three shots in the contest
• VCU added 15 shots to the Quakers 14, while also producing one more shot on goal 4-3 and save 3-2
• With a 57-43 split, the Rams maintained possession for the majority of the contest

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Toure placed the first shot on goal in the contest in the 17^th minute, firing one off to evoke a save from sophomore goalkeeper Phillip Falcon III
• Steadfast in goal, Ermini held onto the scoreless game with a diving save, redirecting a header from Penn midfielder Brandon Curran in the 35^th minute
• Awarded a corner with just 15 seconds left in the initial half, Andres Rodriguez rushed to get in the Rams' kick, perfectly bending his shot into the net at 44:56 to break the stalemate
• Theo Drennan took a shot from just outside the penalty arc in the 47^th minute, but saw it blocked by a Penn defender
• Off of the rebounding blocked shot, Abdul-Mateen leveled a second shot past a diving Falcon III for the Rams' second goal of the evening, just 1:48 into the second half
• The Quakers pressed with intensity, attempting to avoid the shutout, adding five shots in the final five minutes of play
• Earning their second top-15 victory of the season, the Rams handed a strong Penn team its first loss of the season

 
QUOTE FROM HEAD COACH GIFFARD
"It was a good performance tonight from the fellas. I was really proud of how they played throughout the evening and they deserved the three points. The college season always has its ups and downs, and this team is learning how to keep the lows high and the highs low as we search for what the best version of ourselves is going to look like. Tonight was a good step in that direction." – VCU Head Coach Dave Giffard
 
UP NEXT:
The Rams will return to Sports Backers Stadium to begin their Atlantic 10 schedule with RV Rhode Island at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20.