LEXINGTON, Va. - The VMI men's soccer team headed into Saturday's match up with William & Mary knowing they would be in for a tough match. The Keydets (2-3-0) and the Tribe (2-2-0) did not disappoint, and the two teams gave fans a well-fought soccer match at Patchin Field in front of a crowd of several hundred fans and cadets. William & Mary took a two-goal lead halfway through the second period, and was able to hold off a late offensive attack from the Keydets to hold on to win, 2-1.

Both teams came out in the first half with a very aggressive style of play, and both defenses were doing a great job keeping the ball away from the net. The Tribe were able to capitalize on having five first-half corner kicks, as one of them found its way to the middle of the box and forward Jarrett Thomas volleyed a shot just past the outstretched arms of VMI keeper Thomas Upton. The goal was Thomas' third of the season and gave them a 1-0 lead just before the half. Although Thomas was able to score, Upton did a great job in goal for VMI.

"Tommy (Upton) played a great game for us today, his best of the season," said VMI head coach Stephen Ross. "He kept us in the game."

The Keydets were unable to create chances in the first half for their front men Michael Lloyd and Charles Nweke, and only managed to get off 2 shots in the period.

The second half started off very similarly to the first, with both sides battling back and forth. The Tribe were able to create a scoring opportunity when sophomore Doug Ernst crossed a ball in front of the VMI goal that was volleyed into the back of the net by Thomas, his fourth goal of the season. It was now 2-0.

However, there was no quit in the Keydets, and they came back quickly with a few good scoring chances. Their best chance was when Nweke and freshman striker Keith Simpson played a little two-man game, with Nweke feeding a perfect ball to Simpson at the top of the box. Simpson took the pass and struck a laser-shot that hit the cross bar, sailing out of bounds.

"We had several great individual performances today, and Keith had one of them, said Ross. "He is maturing quickly and not playing like a freshman anymore."

Nweke shortly was able to make up for the missed opportunity by converting on a penalty shot with a little over twenty minutes remaining in the game. The goal, his second of the season, now gives him 21 for his career, moving him close to Rich Daughtridge's school record of 36.

"He just continues to get better," said Ross of Nweke. "He is just a solid player for us and we are glad to have him on our team."

Nweke's goal moved VMI to with one goal, but a couple of late scoring chances were unable to be converted, as they fell to William & Mary by the final score of 2-1. And while they Keydets came up a little short today, the team never gave up and held their heads up afterwards.

"We never gave up today, and I think that says a lot about our team," said Ross. "We are constantly getting better, and our team has nothing to be ashamed of today."

We did a better job in the second half of creating scoring chances, and a big reason was the play of junior Addison Palanza in the midfield, he played exceptionally," Ross continued. "Our team battled to full 90 minutes and that's exactly what I ask them to do."

They Keydets next travel to Buies Creek, N.C. this week and they will take on the Campbell Fighting Camels (3-1-0) on Wednesday, September 21 at 5:00 PM.