LEXINGTON, Va. -- After nearly 85 minutes of scoreless play, VMI's persistence paid off as they were able to strike twice in the final minutes to come away with a 2-0 victory on Saturday over the UNC Asheville Bulldogs (1-7-1/0-3 Big South).
Freshman Chris Curtis and sophomore Jose Andueza connected on their first goals of the year as the Keydets (5-4-1) picked up their first conference win of the season, and remained unbeaten at home with a 3-0-1 mark.
VMI Freshman goalie Brian Sowell logged 90 minutes of scoreless action for his third career shutout, leaving him one shy of the single season mark of four held by Thomas Upton (2004), John Simmons (2001) and Gary Morgan (1977). Sowell halted nine shots on the day to preserve the clean sheet.
Despite being outshot 20-9 in the match, VMI was once again able to score on the ones that mattered. In the 85th minute, Curtis was able to hammer home a shot after junior Steve Anderson redirected a corner kick over to his teammate.
A few minutes later, Andueza put the game away when he put away a deflected save by UNCA goalie Phillip Horner. Horner stopped the initial shot by freshman Zach Morgan, but Andueza was there to clean it up for this third career score.
The Keydets will remain home for a pair of tough home matchups as they face the #9 Virginia Tech Hokies on Tuesday, October 9 at 4 p.m. and the Winthrop Eagles on Sunday, October 14 at 12 p.m. Both games will be played at Patchin Field.
GAME NOTES:
-VMI has outscored its opponents 9-4 in four home games this season.
-The all-time series between VMI and UNCA is now tied up at 5-5.
-Curtis and Andueza represent the 10th and 11th player to record a point this season for VMI.
