Box Score: No. 15 Dayton 2, VCU 0
Location: Dayton, Ohio / Baujan Field
Records:  VCU (4-6-6, 1-4-2 A-10), Dayton (9-2-3, 4-1-2 A-10)
 
THE SHORT STORY: Despite appearing evenly matched on the field and in the box score, two shots were the difference that allowed nationally-ranked No. 15 Dayton to defeat the visiting Rams, 2-0, on Wednesday night.
 
PITCH SIDE

• VCU led the match in possession, controlling the ball for 53% of the time to Dayton's 47%
• In an evenly-matched contest, both teams made two saves and took two corner kicks, Dayton took just two more shots, 14-12, and drew two more fouls, 11-9
• Damian Gallegos and Sulaiman Abdul-Mateen each recorded shots on goal for the Rams
• Along with Gallegos, Andres Rodriguez and Moussa Ndiaye each made two shot attempts
• John Ermini made a pair of saves in goal for VCU
• Dayton's Andrew Armstrong recorded both of the Flyers' goals

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Chasing down the ball at midfield and making a run, Abdul-Mateen lobbed the Rams' first chance in the 14^th minute, but Dario Caetano was able to punch it away
• From the penalty spot, Dayton's Armstrong ripped a shot to the far side, just past the gloved hands of a diving Ermini in the 15^th minute
• To extend the Flyers' lead in the 36^th minute, Armstrong doubled his total with another shot to the lower left corner that dodged Rams defenders
• Dayton's Caetano made another save as Gallegos placed his shot on goal from outside the penalty box in the 79^th minute
• In a last-ditch effort, Theo Drennan laid the match's final shot in the 90^th minute, but VCU fell to Dayton, 2-0.

 
QUOTABLE
"I'm so proud of the guys tonight. No one has come here this year and been able to do what we did tonight to Dayton. We controlled the game on both sides of the ball, it went exactly the way we wanted it to go, but unfortunately, we didn't take our chances and they took theirs. In the end, this team is on top in so many ways, but we haven't scored enough to match our quality with the results that our play has deserved. We've got one more game at home on Saturday and we can only control the things that we can control, so we have to come and take care of our business and send the seniors out on a high note." —Head Coach Dave Giffard said.
 
UP NEXT:
The Rams will conclude their season at home on Saturday, Nov. 2, with a senior day celebration prior to their 7 p.m. match with George Mason.