RICHMOND, Va. – The VCU men's soccer team reclaimed its place among the nation's top teams, earning the 25^th spot on TopDrawerSoccer's National Top 25 weekly poll, the organization announced Monday.

The Rams have been ranked or received votes in the United Soccer Coaches national poll since the first week of competition, reaching as high as No. 13 on Sept. 3. This week marks the first time the Rams have appeared in the TopDrawerSoccer rankings in 2024.

In a dominant defensive display, the Rams silenced both nationally ranked No. 15/3 Penn and Rhode Island, who received votes in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Poll, handing each of the then-undefeated opponents their first losses of the year, 2-0.

Senior goalkeeper John Ermini was credited with a pair of shutouts and VCU's defensive effort held the pair of visitors to a combined four shots on goal.

Four Rams recorded goals in the two matches as Sulaiman Abdul-Mateen and Mouhamed Tucker each recorded career firsts and Andres Rodriguez and Papa Toure contributed the game-winners.

VCU returns to action against No. 10/6 Marshall on the road on Wednesday, Sept. 25, in Huntington, W.Va., before continuing its road trip to No. 24 Dayton on Saturday, Sept. 28 in Dayton, Ohio. The pair of upcoming opponents each rose in this week's TDS poll, with Marshall jumping eight spots.

The complete TopDrawerSoccer Poll can be viewed here.