BOONE, N.C. -- The VMI men's soccer team started off its 2007 campaign with a hard-fought 2-0 loss to the Georgia Southern Eagles on Friday in game one of the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center Appalachian Classic. After a scoreless first half, the Eagles (1-0) knocked home a pair of goals in the second to come away with the victory over the Keydets (0-1) at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Friday's matchup, the 16th overall between the two schools and VMI head coach Ben Freakley's first matchup with his alma mater, saw the Eagles outshoot the Keydets 20-6, including an 11-3 mark in the first half of play.

The Keydets started seven freshman in today's opener, as Kurt Zimmerman, Chris Curtis, Brian Harding, Sonny Landry, Zach Morgan, David Hill and goalie Brian Sowell. Sowell played all 90 minutes in goal and recorded 12 saves in his first collegiate game.

Mountaineers forward Jon-Pierre Anthony connected on what the first score of the game in the 48th minute on a close-range shot.

After nearly 40 more scoreless minutes of play, ASU forward Luigi Clendening added an insurance goal in the 88th minute off a feed from teammate Daniel Smith.

The Keydets will return to action on Sunday, Sept. 2 in the final game of the tournament as they take on the host school at ASU Soccer Stadium. Game time is slated for 2:30 p.m.

NOTES: As a part of the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center Appalachian Classic, a kids soccer clinic will be held on Saturday morning at Kidd Brewer Stadium, sponsored by Eurosport, for area youth players. All four participating teams (App. State, VMI, Georgia Southern & Western Illinois) will take part in the event.