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Men's Soccer Ties School Record with Win over Marshall

HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- Senior Rory Page's goal in the 58th minute handed VMI their ninth win of the season, a 2-0 victory over Marshall Wednesday evening in non-conference men's soccer action.

With the win, VMI ties the school record for wins in a season, established in 1990 when the Keydets finished the year with a 9-7-2 record. VMI currently sports a 9-5-1 record, 2-2-1 in the Big South, with four regular-season matches remaining. Marshall fell to 7-6-2 with the loss, as VMI has won the last three meetings with the Thundering Herd.

“We played some great ball tonight against a solid team,” said VMI head coach Stephen Ross. “It was a very physical game, we had to play a lot of defense, but our backs and Tommy Upton played great. Rory Page played maybe the best match I've seen him play, and Tony Williams came up big for us too. It was a very tight game, Marshall is a good team at possessing the ball and building attacks. It feels great to finally get that ninth win, but that hasn't been our focus this year. We've been focusing on peaking for the conference tournament, and I think we're doing just that.”

Page's fourth goal of the season came from the left side, after an assist from Kevin Aldrich. The Keydets' second tally came in the 90th minute, when sophomore Charles Nweke scored his ninth of the season into an empty net.

VMI keeper Thomas Upton continued his fine play, making five saves in the match for his fourth shutout of the season. That also ties a VMI record, pulling Upton even with former Keydet keepers Gary Morgan (1977) and John Simmons (2001).

Joe Nebel made four saves in the match for Marshall, as the Keydets were outshot 18-14 in the match. The Thundering Herd also held a 4-0 advantage in corner kicks and a slight 18-17 edge in fouls.

VMI goes for their record-setting 10th win of the season Saturday, when they host Big South foe Coastal Carolina at noon at Patchin Field. The game is the first of a doubleheader, as the VMI women's team will host Charleston Southern immediately following the men's game.

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