RESULT: VCU 2, Hartford 0
RECORDS: Hartford (1-1-2), VCU (1-4-0)
LOCATION: SportsBackers Stadium (Richmond, Va.)
THE LEAD: The University of Hartford men's soccer team suffered its first loss of 2015 on Friday as it dropped a 2-0 decision at VCU in the opening match of the STIHL Classic. The Rams got on the scoreboard in the third minute, and secured the win late in the second half with an insurance goal in the 86th minute. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Before Hartford had a chance to attack, VCU got on the scoreboard. Rafa Andrade Santos provided the Rams with the early edge after dribbling past his defenders, and lofting a shot over the head of Hartford goalkeeper David MacKinnon in the third minute.
• The Rams would continue to apply pressure early. In the 11th minute, three shots were fired off within a 12 second span, forcing MacKinnon to make back-to-back stops before the final attempt was blocked by a Hartford defender.
• After that opening stretch, Hartford settled in offensively and began to test VCU's back line. In the 18th minute, sophomore Andre Morrison forced the Rams' keeper into action, but Pierre Gardan was up for the challenge as he came away with the save. From there, the Hawks held a 5-1 shot advantage, but were unable to get on the board before the halftime break
• The Hawks' best look of the second half came off the boot of senior Javoni Simms in the 72nd minute. Gardan was off the mark to make the save, but the Rams' had a defender in place to come up with the team save.
• VCU doubled its lead to a pair of goals with less than five minutes left to play. A series of passes through Hartford's defense found Jorge Herranz, who skipped a shot over MacKinnon. Brandon Eaton and Simond Kargbo both received assists on the play.
• With two minutes left, Jonasson had one more shot at closing in on VCU's lead, but his header out of a corner kick went high.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Hartford held a slight edge in shot attempts, taking 11 to VCU's 10
• Sophomore Andre Morrison took a team-best three shots to pace the Hawks' offense while seniorJavoni Simms and rookie Andri Jonasson each added a pair of shots
• The contest was a physical one, as both teams combined for four yellow cards and 35 total fouls
• VCU put six of its shots on goal while holding the Hawks to three looks on the target
• Junior goalkeeper David MacKinnon recorded four saves in the outing; his counterpart, Pierre Gardan, had a pair of saves to preserve the shutout for VCU

NEWS & NOTES:

• Hartford falls to 0-2 in the all-time series with VCU; the Rams took the initial meeting in 1997 by a 3-0 count
• The Hawks conceded a season-high two goals to the Rams

UP NEXT:
Hartford will travel to No. 22 Old Dominion on Sunday for its final contest of the STIHL Men's Soccer Classic. The Hawks and Monarchs are scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m.

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