October 17, 2009

RAMS RALLY WITH TWO GOALS IN FINAL 10 MINUTES OF REGULATION, BATTLE DREXEL TO 2-2 TIE
Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Virginia Commonwealth University men’s soccer team scored two goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation to force overtime at Drexel Saturday night, but a pair of extra frames wasn’t enough to declare a winner as the Rams battled the Dragons to a 2-2 tie.

Trailing 2-0 in the 81st minute, junior Romario Blandon, who registered a career-high nine shots, converted his second penalty kick of the season following a Drexel foul inside the box to pull VCU (3-7-2 overall, 0-5-1 in CAA) within 2-1.

Eight minutes later Blandon assisted on VCU’s equalizing goal as he fired a corner kick in front of the net, where junior James Neighbour sent a header past Drexel keeper Tres Heffron to tie the match with just inside two minutes to go in regulation.

Neither team could find the net in a pair of overtime periods as VCU held a slim 2-1 margin in shots during the extra sessions.

Drexel (5-6-1 overall, 1-3-1 in CAA) scored the game’s first goal in the 28th minute as Nathan Page found Mike Crosse from 18 yards out and went ahead 2-0 in the 54th minute when Cole Feffer connected with Page on a give-and-go.

The Rams applied steady offensive pressure throughout the game, outshooting Drexel 23-16, including 12 in the second half, while holding an astounding 17-3 advantage in corners.

A season-high nine different players registered shots for the Black & Gold, while goalkeeper Gabriel Rodriguez tallied a career-best seven saves.

VCU returns home to Sports Backers Stadium on Wednesday, October 21 for a 7 p.m., match against Colonial Athletic Association foe Georgia State.