the giffard-led program began play in the atlantic 10 conference during the 2012 ncaa division i men's soccer season, where the rams finished fourth in the atlantic 10 table, and reached the final of the 2012 atlantic 10 men's soccer tournament, only to lose to saint louis in the final. the rams secured an at-large bid to the 2012 ncaa division i men's soccer championship, making it the first time since 2004 the rams qualified. in the tournament, vcu was seeded fourteenth in the tournament. they lost to syracuse orange in the second round proper of the tournament, 3–2 after extra time.