RAMS BATTLE HOKIES TO 1-1 TIE IN EXHIBITION FINALE
De Luca notches first goal, Dykstra posts two saves
Box Score

BLACKSBURG, Va. – With only a week left until the start of the 2008 regular season, the Virginia Commonwealth University concluded their exhibition slate with a 1-1 tie against the Hokies of Virginia Tech on Friday evening.

The Black and Gold finish their preseason with a 0-0-2 mark with ties against two ACC powers, one of which (Virginia Tech) is coming off an appearance in the 2007 NCAA College Cup.

VCU dominated the pace early on as junior Owusu Sekyere (Suame-Kumasi, Ghana) and senior David Rosenbaum (Washington, D.C.) each had chances early on, but the Hokie defense was able to keep the game scoreless.

Senior leader Dirk Dittrich (Stuttgart, Germany) helped anchor a strong first-half defensive effort as the Rams held Virginia Tech to just five shots, none of which were on goal.

Rising junior Otavia De Luca (Sao Paulo, Brazil) gave the Black and Gold a 1-0 advantage in the 65th minute on a free kick.

The Hokies would not allow the lead to last long as they put the pressure on right away with two straight shots by Charlie Campbell, before Terry Boland picked up a turnover and slid a shot past senior Andrew Dykstra (Woodbridge, Va.) to even the game at 1-1 in the 73rd minute.

The two teams rounded out the final 17 minutes with several scoring chances for both squads with Campbell pressuring Dykstra yet again, but the veteran was able to keep the game knotted at 1-1 and earn the tie for the Rams.

VCU will take on its third straight ACC opponent and the defending national champion in Wake Forest next Friday, August 29th in a 5 p.m. contest, which will kick off the Carolina Nike Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C.