RAMS SCORE TWICE, BUT FALL TO PANTHERS 3-2
9-24-06
box score

RICHMOND, Va. – Juniors Pat Viray (Reston, Va.) (pictured) and Matthijs Maruanaya (Alkmaar, Netherlands) each scored his second goal of the season, but it was not enough as Virginia Commonwealth University dropped a 3-2 Colonial Athletic Association match with Georgia State Sunday afternoon at VCU’s Sports Backers Stadium.

The Rams (3-6-0, 1-1-0 CAA) had a 21-9 advantage on shots, including an 8-4 edge in shots on goal. Viray had seven shots, including three shots on goal. Maruanaya had six shots, including three shots on goal. The Panthers (1-7-0, 1-1-0 CAA) earned their first victory of the season.

Junior Aaron Shepherd blasted a wind-aided free kick into the net from 45 yards out just 39 second into the match to give GSU an early 1-0 lead. Sophomore Joe Devito added a goal for the Panthers in the 19th minute for a 2-0 margin.

VCU got on the board in the 33rd minute as Viray finished a rebounded shot following a corner kick by junior Thomas Weingartner (Munich, Germany) to narrow the margin to 2-1.

Shepherd powered a free kick into the upper left corner in the 75th minute to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead. Maruanaya scored from 20 yards outs in the 78th minute on a pass from senior Vitor Degani (Sao Paulo, Brazil) to pull VCU to within one at 3-2.

Freshman Matthieu Douard (Reenes, France) recorded one save for the Rams. Sophomore Felipe Carvalho had six saves for the Panthers.

The Rams hit the road for a pair of CAA contests next weekend. VCU plays at Delaware on Friday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m. The Rams visit Drexel on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 12 p.m. That match will be televised on CN8.