Sports Briefs

Capel helps U.S.A. capture gold

VCU head basketball coach Jeff Capel spent time this summer as an assistant coach of the USA Men’s World University Games Team, which won the gold medal over the Ukraine 85-70 in Izmir, Turkey, Aug. 21.

After the championship game Capel wrote on the official VCU athletics Web site that “it was an amazing experience and an incredible sense of pride in completing our mission.”

The team finished 8-0 in the tournament and won the gold medal for the 13th time in the Games history. The average margin of victory was 29.9 points and each triumph was a double-digit win, the closest was a 10-point margin over Germany in the preliminary round.

The USA also defeated Iran, Slovakia, China, Czech Republic, Australia and Russia on its road to the title.

VCU senior forward Nick George (Manchester, England) played for the English team.

WNBA player joins Rams

WNBA player Wendy Palmer-Daniel joins head coach Beth Cunningham’s staff as an assistant coach for the 2005-06 season. Palmer-Daniel was a former standout for the University of Virginia and has played in the WNBA since its inaugural season in 1997.

Rams men lose exhibition

The 11th-ranked Rams soccer team fell to in-state rival Virginia 2-1 in Charlottesville Saturday Aug. 20.

The Rams took an early lead on a goal by Ebo Stephens (Accra, Ghana) in the eighth minute, but the sixth-ranked Cavaliers scored two second-half goals (55th and 70th minute) to complete the comeback.

Oduro named preseason All-American

VCU senior forward Dominic Oduro (Accra, Ghana) was named to the preseason All-American second team by College Soccer News. He led the CAA with 16 goals, including three game-winners, and 33 points this past season.

Game canceled against Ghana

The VCU men’s soccer team was scheduled to play an exhibition game against the Ghana Under-17 team Saturday, Aug. 27, but visa problems forced its cancellation.

Rams field hockey team blanked

VCU lost 3-0 to the Mavericks, a local club team, in an exhibition game last week.

Keyes earns region coaching honor

The American Baseball Coaches Association named VCU’s head baseball coach Paul Keyes as one of NCAA Division I East Region Coach of the Year.

Keyes has been named CAA coach of the year three times and led the Rams to three conference titles in the past four years. He has a 407-242 (.627) record in 11 seasons at VCU.