Men’s soccer finishes

A season predicted to hold great things for the men’s soccer team ended Tuesday when VCU fell to UNC Wilmington 2-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association quarterfinals at Sports Backers Stadium.

The game encapsulated some of the downfalls of the Rams this season. The team’s most offensive player, senior Dominic Oduro (Accra, Ghana), was consistently double-and-triple teamed throughout the night, essentially taking him out of the game.

VCU managed to work their offense well enough, generating shots and scoring chances. But without Oduro’s help, other Rams were unable to step up and fill the scoring void.

“It just wasn’t working for us tonight,” sophomore Pat Viray (Reston/ South Lakes High School) said. “I personally also just couldn’t get anything on goal.”

The Seahawks took the lead for good just four minutes into the game after an excellent shot by Russell Bienias. Standing more parallel to the goal than in front, Bienias bent a shot across the face of the goal and into the upper right hand side of the net, just out of the reach of Rams goalie Andrew Dykstra (Woodbridge/Osbourn Park High School).

Throughout the second half, the Seahawks concentrated on maintaining their lead with staunch defense. UNCW played tight around their own goal, allowing VCU time to set up their offense, but forcing them to take bad or well-defended shots.

The strategy paid off, and the Seahawks were able to put the game away for good after Beinias scored his second goal of the night in the 67th minute.

The Rams actually ended the day outshooting the Seahawks 22-10, but UNCW goalie Brad Knighton played extremely well, deflecting any shots his defenders managed to let through.

“It’s a bad way to go out,” a disappointed Viray said, “but they played hard and they’re a good team.”