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Late Rally Not Enough as Men's Soccer Falls to Liberty 3-2

LYNCHBURG, Va. - The men's soccer team launched a late rally in the final minutes against Liberty, but were unable to overcome an early deficit as they fell to the Flames 3-2 in a re-scheduled conference game at Liberty Soccer Field in Lynchburg, Va.

After just over 41 minutes of scoreless play, the Liberty Flames (5-6-2 / 3-1-1) erupted for two goals in 51 seconds to give them a 2-0 advantage heading into halftime. Toby Lewis struck first with his fifth goal of the season off a pair of nice feeds inside the box. Cameron Chastian netted the second goal of the game as he volleyed in a rebound shot in front of the goal for his first goal of the season.

Chastian got the Flames going again in the second half as he finished off a long ball from teammates Adrian Bumbut and Kyle Cupid for his second of the game, putting his team up three goals in the 77th minute.

With a three-goal deficit with just 13 minutes remaining, many teams would be content with just letting the clock run down and calling it a game. However, the young Keydets squad, now 7-7-1 overall and 1-4 in Big South play, responded with a pair of goals to end the game on a positive note.

Junior forward Michael Lloyd picked up a loose ball in front of the net and knocked it in to put the Keydets on the board in the 77th minute. The goal was Lloyd's fifth of the season, tying him for the team lead along with Charles Nweke and Wythe Horbal. Sophomore Dylan Reed added another score for VMI with a 30-yard blast that found the back of the net. Reed, who's goal was his first of the season, has seen an increase in playing time as of lately, and has taken advantage with solid play in the midfield.

John Sollock started his fifth straight game in goal for the Keydets, and tied a season-high with seven saves in the game while playing 75 minutes against Liberty. Junior keeper Thomas Upton, who has been sidelined with an injury, saw his first action in five games as he manned the goal for the final 15 minutes of play.

Liberty goalkeeper Kevin Mahan played the first 77 minutes in net for the Flames, and then gave way to Michael Masmar for the final 13 minutes.

VMI now must concentrate on Coastal Carolina, as they travel to Conway, S.C. to square off with the Chanticleers as part of their Homecoming celebration on Saturday, October 29 at 6:00 p.m. VMI is looking for a big win on Saturday, because since joining the Big South Conference just two years ago, VMI hasn't defeated the Chanticleers, and was ousted in the Big South Tournament last year in a 1-0 heartbreaker.

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