May 12, 2009

RAMS RELEASE 2009 MEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE
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RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Commonwealth University men’s soccer program has announced its 2009 schedule.

The Rams, who missed the conference tournament last year after making an appearance in 12 of the previous 13 seasons, will look to regain their presence in the Colonial Athletic Association this fall.

Junior Jorit Loehr (Bremen, Germany), who received third team All-CAA recognition a year ago after leading the Rams with five goals and 12 points, will be one of seven starters back from last year’s squad.

VCU has scheduled three exhibition matches to prepare for the start of the season.  The Rams will face Atlantic Coast Conference foes North Carolina and Duke in the UNC/Duke Tournament set for Aug. 21st and 23rd.  The Black and Gold will then entertain in-state rival Virginia Tech at Sports Backers Stadium on Aug. 28 in the final tune-up before the team embarks on its regular season slate.

VCU opens the 2009 schedule at the Coastal Carolina Tournament in Conway, N.C.  The Rams will face Albany on Sept. 4 and square off against St. Francis on Sept. 6, before traveling to South Orange, N.J., to play Seton Hall on Sept. 11.

After three-straight road matches to start the season, the Rams return home to host in-state rivals University of Richmond on Sept. 15, followed by Longwood on Sept. 20.

CAA play is set to begin Sept. 26 when the Rams entertain George Mason before hitting the road for a Sept. 29 non-conference match in Charlottesville against in-stat rival Virginia.

VCU opens the month of October with its first CAA road contest of the year as the Black and Gold travels to Hempstead, N.Y., to face Hofstra on Oct. 3, beginning a stretch of 10 conference games to finish out the season.

Four of the next six matches for the Rams are at home against James Madison (Oct. 7), William & Mary (Oct. 10), Georgia State (Oct. 21) and Towson (Oct. 24).  The Rams travel to UNC Wilmington on Oct. 13 and Drexel on Oct. 17.

VCU faces Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va., on Oct. 27 before its final home game Oct. 31 against Delaware.