Women?s Soccer Knocks Off High Point, 3-1

Women's Soccer VMIKeydets.com

Women?s Soccer Knocks Off High Point, 3-1

HIGH POINT, N.C.- The VMI women's soccer team scored its first road win of the season in dispatching of High Point 3-1 on Saturday evening in Big South Conference action at the Vert Track & Soccer Stadium.

The Keydets (6-7-1, 3-1-1 Big South) broke a seven-game road losing streak dating back to last season by scoring twice in the opening 10 minutes of action against HPU.  

Junior Chrissy Beach chased down a ball that awkwardly bounced over an HPU defender and then lined a shot just under the crossbar to give VMI a 1-0 lead only 1:39 into the game.  VMI made it 2-0 at the 9:35 mark when freshman Sarah Strand found the back of the net with a header off a free kick service from her sister Megan Strand. Keydet freshman Amanda Berrios collected the rebound of her own shot attempt in front of the HPU net and pushed it into the side of the net for a 3-0 VMI lead at 32:17.

At the 41:38 mark, the Panthers got on the board just before halftime as Jillie Johnston found a streaking Katie Taber with a well-played service through the middle of the VMI defense. Taber poked the ball past the VMI keeper, who had come off her line in an attempt to intercept the pass, capping the first-half scoring.

High Point had several chances in the game's final 45 minutes, as the hosts tried to fight back into the game.  Early in the second half, Sara Rager chipped a cross into the box and found Laura Eldridge free for a header that just went over the crossbar. A few minutes later, an HPU corner kick again found Eldridge but this time her header directed low toward the VMI goal was cleared off the line by a Keydet defender at the last moment.

Then with a little over 16 minutes remaining in the game, Courtney Spotts blasted a shot from over 30 yards out that was fisted over the crossbar by a leaping Heidi Beemer in goal, as it appeared to be headed in for a score.

Heidi Beemer tallied six saves in earning the win between the pipes for VMI while Marisa Abbott also finished with six saves in net for HPU.

For the game, High Point posted a 23-12 advantage in total shot attempts, but VMI held a slight 9-8 edge in shots on goal. HPU also earned 12 corner kicks to just four for the Keydets.

VMI continues its four-game road stretch on Tuesday afternoon, traveling to take on UNC Asheville at 4 p.m.

Keydet Quick Hits
?    At the end of Saturday's play, VMI is tied for third place in the Big South standings with High Point, as each team has 10 points.  The Keydets currently trail first-place Coastal Carolina (15 pts.) and second-place Charleston Southern (11 pts.), though are the only team mentioned to have played only five conference games.  (Three points awarded for a win, 1 point awarded for a tie)
?    After going 2-29 over the past four seasons in the Big South Conference, VMI is now 3-1-1 in the League in 2008.
?    The road win was VMI's first since defeating Winthrop 2-1 on Oct. 24, 2007.
?    Sixteen of VMI's 27 goals this season have been scored by freshmen.
?    High Point now holds a 4-2 lead all-time in the series against VMI.

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Players Mentioned

Chrissy Beach

#7 Chrissy Beach

F
5' 9"
Sophomore
Heidi Beemer

#1 Heidi Beemer

GK
5' 10"
Freshman
Megan Strand

#2 Megan Strand

MF
5' 4"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Chrissy Beach

#7 Chrissy Beach

5' 9"
Sophomore
F
Heidi Beemer

#1 Heidi Beemer

5' 10"
Freshman
GK
Megan Strand

#2 Megan Strand

5' 4"
Junior
MF