Virginia Commonwealth University

Score: No. 22 Old Dominion 2, VCU 1
Location: Richmond, Va. / VCU Athletic Village
Records: VCU 0-5-2, Old Dominion 7-0
 
THE SHORT STORY
VCU Men's Soccer held the nation-leading scoring offense to just two goals on Monday, but nationally ranked No. 22 Old Dominion outlasted VCU's attack to pick up its seventh win in as many matches in a 2-1 match to conclude the Rams' non-conference slate.
 
PITCH-SIDE

• Parker Simkins scored the first Rams goal in the history of the VCU Athletic Village
• VCU outshot Old Dominion 17-9 and led the match with six shots on goal to ODU's four
• Simkins, Andrey Salmeron and Mohammed Ibrahim each logged two shots on goal; Ibrahim led the game with four shot attempts
• The Rams held the Monarchs below their nation-leading 4.17 goals per game (2) and third-ranked 9.67 shots on goal per game (4)
• The Rams dominated possession, controlling the ball for 62% of the match
• ODU made five saves to VCU's two
• The Monarchs advanced to 7-0 on the season, remaining one of the only three Division I teams with a perfect record

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Old Dominion got on the board in the fifth minute, opening the match with a goal from Miguel Menendez
• Simkins capitalized on a Monarch turnover in their defensive third, striking the tying goal
• ODU's Micah Wayland headed in the go-ahead goal in the 43^rd minute, and the Monarchs entered the half with a one-goal lead
• The Rams racked up 11 shots in the second half, twice finding the crossbar and missing the tying strike by just inches, but were unable to find a second goal
• Old Dominion took the match 2-1

 
SCORING MOMENTS
5' | ODU 1, VCU 0 – Drew Hansen; Alex Partera
24' | VCU 1, ODU 1 – Parker Simkins
43' | ODU 2, VCU 1 – Micah Wayland; Jason Purks, Matthew Moffatt
 
QUOTABLE
"It's not the result we wanted, but a significant improvement in performance from Friday. Two games in a row now, once on Friday after their red card and then for 90 minutes today, we basically had an attacking training activity. These were the first times this year that we were in total control of the games and had all the responsibility to make the game. This is a challenge that, quite honestly, we just aren't ready for yet. Even without a good training session between games, we improved significantly from Friday, but not to the point that we need to get to or will have the capacity to achieve.
 
"We finish the non-conference portion of the schedule without a win, unfortunately. But the last time we did that was 3 years ago and we won the league and lost in the title game and ended the regular season with an RPI of 31 and were the first team left out of the NCAA tournament. Both of the last two years we finished the non-conference portion of the schedule in the top 15-20 of the RPI and ranked in the top 25. Neither of those years did we win anything. So, the reality is that we are in the same race we were in when the season started and nothing has been written in stone just yet. How close to our potential can we get before we get to the point of the season where you win or advance in penalties and keep playing or you lose and the season ends. I feel very confident that we are making progress along that way, but how much and how quickly will determine how the season goes in this next chapter and into the post season," Head Coach Dave Giffard said.
 
UP NEXT
VCU will open its Atlantic 10 slate at 2 p.m. on the road against St. Bonaventure on Sept. 19, before returning home for the first A10 match at the new Athletic Village against Fordham on Sept. 26. All men's soccer home matches feature free admission to fans. For more information, click here.