Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer team dropped its 2014 season opener on Friday night at the VCU Invitational to the host Rams, 3-0, at Sports Backers Stadium. VCU, who came into the contest ranked #27 in both the College Soccer News Preseason Top 30 Poll and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) rankings, begins the season 1-0-0, while the Knights start the year 0-1-0.

FDU was outshot, 11-3, and produced only one shot on goal, which came off the foot of sophomore Enver Caymaz (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes). The Rams manufactured four shots on goal but three found the back of the net. Junior Aleksandar Djekic (Belgrade, Serbia/Druga Ekonomska Skola), who was only making his second career start and playing in only his third career match, made one save.

The Rams took the lead for good in the seventh minute when Jose Manel scored to give the home team a very early 1-0 advantage, which would be the lead after 45 minutes. The Knights had a golden opportunity to tie contest in the 40th minute, but senior Nico Wright (St. Catherine, Jamaica/Jamaica College)'s penalty kick opportunity sailed over the crossbar.

Despite being outshot, 7-3, in the first half, FDU held a 3-1 lead in corner kicks.

The Knights' chance at tying the match in the second half was quickly halted only 4:04 after the intermission, as Kharlton Belmar scored to increase VCU's lead to 2-0. The Rams put the contest away in the 71st minute when Meraz Herrera scored to make the final tally, 3-0.

VCU outshot FDU, 4-0, in the second half while holding a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks.

"We lost to a very-talented and disciplined and athletic VCU team," Head Coach Seth Roland said. "They are a bona fide top-20 team and possibly even better than that. I thought we actually played reasonably well in many aspects and competed in a focused manner. Our new players, as well as our returning players, can learn a great deal from this game, and we look forward to processing this lesson in a way that will result in our positive development as a team."

The Knights return to action on Sunday, Aug. 31 when it concludes the VCU Invitational at William & Mary, who lost 3-2 on Friday night at home to East Tennessee State. Kickoff in Williamsburg, Va. against the Tribe, who also received votes in the preseason polls, is slated for 5 p.m.