HIGH POINT, N.C. ? The most successful season in school history came to an end for the VMI women's soccer team on Friday evening, falling 2-1 in the Big South Championship Semifinals to Radford at the Vert Track & Soccer Field on the campus of High Point.
The Keydets (10-10-1) struck first in the match, but saw the Highlanders (13-1-6) answer quickly and score the eventual game-winner just after halftime. VMI caps their season with a school-record 10 wins following their first-ever win in a Conference Championship, coming in a 2-1 win over Winthrop on Thursday.
“What a great game of soccer,” said Big South Coach of the Year Bryan Williams. “In the first half in particular, my players came out ready to play, and we put together one of our best halves of the season. In the second half, Radford came out and right out of the gate put a lot of pressure on us and found the early goal. It's a shame that was the one that killed us. I give Radford a lot of credit, they held the ball well and continued to put pressure on us. I'm proud of every girl on this team and pleased with how this season has gone for them. The improvement that this team has made this year has just been amazing and fun to watch and be a part of.”
The Highlanders notched the first shot on goal of the match in the 11th minute, when freshman Ashley Johnson's looping attempt from near the right sideline was easily handled by Keydet keeper Angela Redmond.
The Keydets mounted their first offensive attack in the game's 12th minute, when Olivia Moore's initial shot was blocked, but the rebound came right to Megan Strand just outside of the top of the box. The senior co-captain fired on goal but saw her attempt sail just over the crossbar.
VMI kept up the pressure throughout the opening 20 minutes before a flurry of chances for Radford just before the midway point of the opening period.
The Keydets got on the board in the game's 26th minute. Junior Chrissy Beach created space on the right flank and sent a cross into the box. RU keeper Lisa Lubke came off her line to corral the cross, but when the ball popped out of her possession, Moore was there to head home her conference-leading 13th goal of the season.
“Olivia's goal off of Chrissy's cross was a great goal,” said Williams. “It really got us excited. It was a great effort by both of them, along with Megan Strand.”
The Highlanders answered just three minutes later, when senior Laura Culver's shot from 25 yards out found its way into the net. The high-arcing shot went over Redmond's head, and despite getting a hand on it, she could not keep the ball from bounding into the goal off the crossbar.
Radford mounted a late surge toward the end of the first half to take a 13-10 advantage in shots at the break. Just before the intermission, however, the Keydets drew back-to-back corner kicks, but saw shots by Moore and Amanda Berrios go wide of the goal.
Just after the break, the Highlanders took a 2-1 advantage when Justine Dugger found the upper corner on the far post on a shot from just outside of the box. McKenzie Vergara picked up her fourth assist of the season on Dugger's fourth goal of the campaign, coming in the 47th minute.
Each team had great chances nearing the middle of the second period. The Highlanders nearly struck in the 61st minute, when Johnson finished off an offensive threat from in close by just shooting wide of the goal. Lubke then came up with a brilliant save in the game's 64th minute, turning away a Berrios shot that was headed for the upper corner from no more than 10 yards out. Just over a minute later, Radford's Melony Davis nearly converted a one-timer, as her shot from inside the six-yard box sailed over the crossbar.
“Our best opportunity was a terrific bit of footwork by Amanda to get into the box and challenge their goalkeeper,” said Williams. “Unfortunately, she couldn't get it in past Lubke to square the match.”
A lengthy offensive possession for the Keydets around the 72-minute mark came up empty, despite several throw-ins and a well-placed corner kick by substitute Kathleen Underwood.
The Highlanders nearly put the game out of reach in the 83rd minute, when Latrice Lee's 1-on-1 attempt with Redmond from inside the six-yard box went just over the crossbar. On a corner kick just two minutes later, Redmond made a fantastic save on a header by Caitlyn Roan to keep the Keydets in it.
The Highlanders, though, were then able to keep possession as time wound down, drawing back-to-back corner kicks to bleed the clock.
Radford held an 11-4 advantage in shots in the game's closing period, making the final margin 24-14 in favor of the Highlanders.
Lubke was credited with six saves in the victory, while Redmond made five saves in the loss.
The match marked the final appearances in the careers of senior co-captains Celine Ziobro and Megan Strand. They will graduate as the winningest senior class in program history, playing in 27 of the program's 31 all-time wins.
“I felt that for Celine and Megan to finish out their VMI careers on the positive notes that they did was awesome,” said Williams. “They put their hearts into this game, and we got tremendous performances out of both of them. I know that they wanted to make the Final, and I wish that we could've gotten there for them. But tonight was no small feat to test and stretch a good Radford team to make them find a way to beat us.”
Keydet Quick Kicks
? VMI finishes the 2008 season with their best-ever record, finishing at .500 for the first time at 10-10-1
? Big South Freshman of the Year Olivia Moore upped her conference leading points total to 29, which establishes a new VMI record for most points in a single season by a freshman. Her 13 goals tie the school's freshman record and are also tied for the second-most by any Keydet in a season.
? VMI suffered their first loss in the State of North Carolina, having gone 3-0 previously in the state in 2008.
? After going 8-0 to begin the season in matches that they scored first in, the Keydets suffered losses in each of their final two matches having done so in 2008.
? Each of the three goals the Keydets scored at the Conference Championship were scored by freshmen.
