Women's Soccer 10/1/2008 6:00:00 PM VMIKeydets.com

Women?s Soccer Wins Third Straight With 3-0 Win Over Winthrop

LEXINGTON, Va.- Entering the 2008 season, the VMI women's soccer team had won two Big South contests in their four seasons since joining the League. With a 3-0 win over Winthrop on Wednesday afternoon, the Keydets improved to 2-0 in the Big South this season, posting their third consecutive shutout in the process.

In an exciting match that featured end-to-end action throughout, VMI (5-5) took advantage of their opportunities to score their third-straight win. Winthrop (4-6, 0-2 Big South), in fact, out-shot VMI by an 18-9 margin, however, many of those attempts came from 20 or more yards out.

“To know where we've been in the past, for us to find a way to already put two wins in our column is amazing,” said VMI head coach Bryan Williams. “For us to open up 2-0, versus being winless and then maybe picking someone off, is a huge difference for our program. We've always been competitive, but now having that ability to really beat teams in conference really says a lot about the hard work that our team has put in.”

Sophomore Heidi Beemer made seven saves to preserve her second shutout of the season, and the team's fourth of 2008. The Keydets have not allowed a goal in 279:15, establishing a new school record.

VMI opened the scoring in the 11th minute, as Amanda Berrios connected on a sliding attempt at the top of the 18-yard box past Winthrop keeper Dimitra Poulos, who was charging on the play. Megan Strand picked up an assist on the goal.

The Eagles nearly tied the match in the 29th minute, when Brittany Soto pushed a shot just wide of the far post on a 1-on-1 opportunity with Beemer.

A.J. Baker gave the hosts a 2-0 advantage just before halftime, converting her second goal of the season in the 44th minute. On the score, Alexi Staton played the ball down to Kat Underwood, who used a touch pass to find Baker at the top of the box.

VMI put the game out of reach in the 57th minute, when Chrissy Beach joined in on the scoring act. Beach received a long pass from Celine Ziobro and beat Poulos on a 1-on-1 opportunity, notching her fourth goal of the season.

“I was very pleased with Chrissy's goal in the second half,” continued Williams. “We needed that goal to put them away. She positioned herself well, picked her shot and put the ball in the left-side of the net. That was a game-breaker for them that just sealed it.”

Poulos made two saves in the contest before being relieved in the 66th minute by Kelsy Weavil, who did not face a shot over the final 24+ minutes.

It marked the second-straight win in the series for VMI after a 2-1 defeat of the Eagles last season in Rock Hill, S.C. It is also the first time in program history that the Keydets have won three consecutive games.

The Keydets continue their five-game home stand on Saturday morning, playing host to Charleston Southern at 11 a.m. in a Big South Conference contest.

Keydet Quick Hits
?   VMI improves to 5-1 at Patchin Field this season, and have now outscored opponents 19-2 in their six home games.
?   The Keydets' four shutouts match last year's school-record total.
?   Winthrop is the only Big South team that VMI has defeated more than once.
?   VMI currently boasts a goals-against-average of 0.89, while last season, the team set a school record with a 1.81 GAA.
?    The 3-0 win over Winthrop is the largest margin of victory for VMI against a Big South opponent.

HEAD COACH BRYAN WILLIAMS- “The way that we came out and pressured them from the beginning and created opportunities against (Winthrop keeper Dimitra) Poulos, who is a phenomenal keeper, made it a fun match to watch. For us to play a Wednesday game at home, and to be able to have our girls turn it up a notch against a team that has been strong in conference, was just a great feeling.”

On record-setting defensive play:
“We were without Audrey Falconi today, and we were worried about that. I thought that Kelly Morrison really stepped up and played a great match. We got a very solid match out of Alexi Staton coming back off of injury. She did a great job, as did Jennifer Ball on the other side of the field. Celine Ziobro continues to play at the top of her game. Over the past four or five games, this is the best that she has played for us in four years here. She's been very consistent and has been a catalyst for us on the back line. Heidi had a great game as well. She fielded some things that came across and had a very solid match.”

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