the team's most successful run in the college cup, the men's ncaa division i soccer tournament, came in 2004, where the rams entered the tournament as ranked 16th in the nation, earning a bye to the second round proper. in the second round, the rams defeated george washington, before upsetting the number-one seeded, wake forest demon deacons in penalty kicks. reaching the regional finals, or quarterfinals in the entire tournament, vcu lost to eventual national finalists, the uc santa barbara gauchos.