FARMVILLE, Va.- It was an all too familiar result for the VMI women's soccer team on
Tuesday evening. Eleven days after
taking a 1-0, overtime loss at Howard in their season opener, the Keydets again
dropped a 1-0 decision in extra time in their second game of the season, coming
against Longwood in Farmville.
VMI (0-2) saw
sophomore Kayla Huggins score her first goal of the season in the game's 100th
minute, as she beat Keydet goalkeeper Heidi Beemer after a pass from Kaylyn
Mahon put her in position for the game-winner.
“Tonight was a very
good, exciting game,” said VMI head coach Bryan Williams. “We came out and played very well in the
first half, and could have been up as much as 3-0 in the first ten minutes if
it hadn't been for some great saves by their keeper. Longwood really didn't know what hit them
early on. In the second half they
stepped it up, and we got a couple of big saves by Heidi and some great play
from our back line. At the end of
regulation, the shots were dead even, and they came up with the goal right at
the end of the first overtime, which was very frustrating. But I was encouraged by our effort and our
intensity, it was there the entire night.
We played 15 players, and I'm very proud of what our whole group gave us
tonight.”
VMI held a 6-3
advantage in shots in the game's opening period, but were shutout as Lancer
keeper Marcia Biddle made her only three saves of the contest. The Lancers (2-1-1) out-shot the Keydets 8-3 the rest
of the way, including 3-1 in extra time.
Beemer made four saves
in goal for the Keydets, while Chrissy
Beach led VMI with three
shots.
The
Keydets return to action on Saturday, hosting Campbell in their home opener at Patchin
Field, with kickoff set for 5 p.m.
