LEXINGTON, Va. - Two goals from Keydet sophomore midfielder Austin Williams (Fairfax, Va./ Robinson) wasn't enough as the VMI soccer team dropped a 3-2 decision to the College of Charleston on Saturday at Patchin Field.

The loss dropped the Keydets to 2-7-4 overall and 2-3 in the Southern Conference. College of Charleston improved to 8-5-1 overall and 3-2 in SoCon play.

The College of Charleston started strong when junior defenseman Montae Seabrook gathered a deflected corner kick and fired it past VMI's junior goalkeeper Brian Douglas (Virginia Beach, Va./ Catholic) to take a 1-0 lead at the 2:50 mark. Turner Walters and Jeff Files had an assist on the play.

VMI answered with 2:51 left in the half. Williams sent a header into the back of the net off a throw-in from Jonathan Rios (Fredricksburg, Va./ Courtland) to tie the contest at 1-1.

The two teams remained deadlocked until the Cougars' Ricardo Diaz Granados booted a cross from Ben Hollingsworth in for the goal, giving the College of Charleston a 2-1 lead 4:56 into the second half.

Williams answered again for the Keydets with a blast from the top of the box to knot the contest at 2-2 with 17:29 remaining.

The Cougars responded 4:30 later when senior Tyler Beckstead gathered a pass from Matt Schindelholz and sent it into the corner of the net to give College of Charleston a 3-2 lead.

"I was really happy with the fight in our kids," said VMI head coach Stephen Ross. "Our kids answered every call. Austin Williams played extremely well. The chemistry was there. I thought the kids played well together."

The Keydets travel to Boone, N.C. and will face Appalachian State on Tuesday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Scoring By Halves 1 2 F Records
College of Charleston 1 2 3 (8-5-1, 3-2)
VMI 1 1 2 (2-7-4, 2-3)

Scoring Summary
Montae Seabrook (COFC) 2:50 (Turner Walters, Jeff Files)
Austin Williams (VMI) 41:09 (Jonathan Rios)
Ricardo Diaz Granados (COFC) 49:56 (Ben Hollingsworth)
Austin Williams (VMI) 72:31 (Unassisted)
Tyler Beckstead (COFC) 77:01 (Matt Schindelholz)

Goalkeeper Saves - College of Charleston 3, VMI 3
Shots - College of Charleston 8, VMI 7
Corner Kicks - College of Charleston 7, VMI 8
Fouls - College of Charleston 8, VMI 7


-VMI-