Score: No. 15 High Point 3, VCU 1
Location: Richmond, Va. / Sports Backers Stadium
Records: VCU (1-3-1), High Point (3-0-1)
 
THE SHORT STORY
VCU men's soccer got off to a strong start against 15^th-ranked High Point, but were overcome by the Panthers' persistence on Friday evening, dropping the contest 3-1.
 
PITCH SIDE

• Lucas White scored his first goal of the season and Camilo Comi tallied his first assist
• White was assessed a red card in the 56^th minute, the Rams played a man down for the final 33 minutes of the match
• Junior goalkeeper Trevor Maloney played a full 90 for the second consecutive game, making three saves against the nationally ranked HPU attack
• Mohammed Ibrahim led the Rams with a pair of shots
• VCU was outshot 18-7, but High Point recorded just one more shot on goal, 6-5

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Maloney set the Rams up for their lead with a game-opening save in the second minute
• In the ninth minute, VCU got on the board with a tip-in from White on a long ball-in from Comi, taking the 1-0 lead
• After a defensive battle in the first half, High Point netted the equalizer in the 40^th minute and pulled ahead on a penalty kick goal in the 43^rd minute, 2-1
• HPU had the final word in the contest, nailing one more goal in the 51^st minute
• Following a red card on White, the Rams put forth a strong man-down defensive effort, but were unable to produce the offense to come back, falling 3-1 on Friday night

QUOTABLE
"The first 38 minutes of the game were the best our group has done so far, and they did many things very well. We scored one and probably should have had a few others. We made a few subs at the end of the half and gave away a goal that we probably shouldn't have to tie it up and then things got a little crazy and I'll just leave it at that. I was proud of the group for continuing to battle and show resilience, but in the end it was too big of a hurdle to overcome. Playing games at this level will bring out all the things that exist in our team, though—the areas where we are top and the areas where we need to grow. I have a lot of confidence that this group will learn in 16the areas we need to grow and will continue to progress. I don't think we are a group that anyone will want to play as the season goes along and we continue to grow the way we have the first few weeks," said Head Coach Dave Giffard.
 
UP NEXT
The Rams will spend the week on the road with a pair of ranked matchups against No. 3 Clemson at Historic Riggs Field in Clemson, S.C., and No. 21 Penn at Rhodes Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Tuesday and Friday, respectively.