LEXINGTON, Va. - After 85 minutes of scoreless play, the Keydets (6-5-1) scored two goals in just over four minutes, including the game winner in overtime, to defeat UNC Asheville 2-1 for their first conference win of the season.

"It feels real good to get our first conference win," said VMI head coach Stephen Ross. "This is a great win for our team."

UNC Asheville (2-8-1) scored the game's first goal with just over four minutes remaining in the contest when Scott Szymanski placed a shot perfectly over VMI goalkeeper John Sollock's outstretched hands for the 1-0 lead.

However, VMI quickly responded just two-minutes later when freshman midfielder Stephen Anderson re-directed a Josh Hanna feed past Bulldog goalkeeper Michael Pereira in the 87th minute to tie the game up. The goal from Anderson was his first score of the season, and his first as a Keydet.

"I felt like we were close all game and just couldn't get one in, but sometimes that extra effort of being down a goal makes all the difference," said Ross.

The late goal inspired the Keydets, who played most of the second half a man down, and they wasted little time in the first overtime session as Hanna fired a shot just past a sliding Pereira into the back of the net for the game-winner. The shot came after a nice individual effort as he dribbled past several defenders to free up the shot.

Hanna, who is no stranger to big plays for VMI, recorded his fourth goal of the season to go along with three assists for a team high 11 points. Earlier this year in a 3-2 overtime win over Mount St. Mary's, Hanna contributed on all three goals with two assists and one goal in the Keydets first big comeback of the year.

The Keydets outshot the Bulldogs today 14-9, and had several good scoring chances in the match but just couldn't capitalize with a goal. Charles Nweke and Keith Simpson had a pair of shots deflect off the post for the Keydets, and Pereira came up with a few big saves to keep the Keydets scoreless for most of the game. Pereira finished with 5 saves on the day for the Bulldogs.

"I feel real good about this team as we get deeper into conference play," said Ross. "We're coming together well and starting to read each other in certain situations to create good scoring opportunities."

VMI is now 4-1 at home at Patchin Field, and improves to 1-2 in the Big South Conference. They four conference games remaining, with matchups against Winthrop, Liberty, Coastal Carolina and High Point.

VMI, who has had four straight contests on the road before today, has a slight break in conference play as they host Lynchburg College on Tuesday, October 18 at Patchin Field. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.