RIVERDALE, N.Y. -- In a back and forth non-conference battle, redshirt junior Wythe Horbal connected on a penalty kick and freshman goalie Brian Sowell made several key saves as the Keydets defeated Manhattan 1-0 on Friday at Gaelic Park. VMI (3-2-1) remains unbeaten in its last four matches and picks up their first road victory of the year.

VMI has now won all five meetings between the two schools, who have met five times in the past seven seasons. The Jaspers fall to 1-5 on the season.

Horbal created the penalty kick situation after eluding Manhattan goalie John Ciano in the 75th minute and forcing a deliberate hand ball by a Jasper defender to prevent the easy score. Both a red card and penalty kick were awarded, and Horbal calmly knocked home the free kick to provide the only score of the game, and his third of the season.

On the other end of the field, Sowell made a host of acrobatic saves to record his first career clean sheet, and third victory on the year. The youngster finished with seven saves in the game while Ciano grabbed four.

In a game with limited scoring opportunities, both teams knocked shots off the post prior to Horbal's goal. Manhattan outshot VMI in the match 15-9, and took eight corners to the visitor's four.

The Keydets will remain on the east coast this weekend before traveling down to Philadelphia to face the Philadelphia University Rams on Sunday afternoon. Game time is set for noon at Ravenhill Field.