LEXINGTON, Va. - Two second-half goals led the UNC Asheville Bulldogs to a 2-1 win over the VMI men's soccer team Saturday afternoon in a Big South conference contest at Patchin Field.

Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Asheville notched the tying goal just five minutes into the second half, as Scott Himelein scored his first collegiate goal off a cross from Branden Lassen. The teams then traded quality opportunities over the next several minutes, before the Bulldogs took a 2-1 lead on a goal by Zachary Odum at the 78:21 mark.

Less than a minute later, Will Quarles had a quality shot at the Bulldogs' net, but Asheville keeper Lassi Hurskainen made a full-length dive and tipped the shot away, preserving the lead. VMI had several other chances over the remainder of the game, but the Asheville defense was up to the task. Herskainen sprawled out for a save on Zach Morgan's shot at 81:39, and then tipped away a desperation Sonny Landry header with under 20 seconds to go, allowing the Bulldogs to escape with the 2-1 victory.

With the win, Asheville evens its record at 6-6-2 and moves to 2-1 in the Big South, while VMI falls to 2-9-1 and 1-2 in Big South play.

The cold, windy day began with 10:55 of action without a shot being recorded. Both sides had chances, but could not muster an official shot until UNCA's Bryan Bartles had a shot blocked at the 10:55 mark. Just over a minute later, the Keydets tested Herskainen for the first time, but he was able to stop the Chris Curtis shot.

At the 19:54 mark, freshman Forrest Moul made a run deep into Bulldog territory. He nailed a crossing pass into the box, and Brian Harding tipped it into the net for the game's first goal. Harding's third goal of the season made it 1-0, Keydets.

VMI then made a push for a 2-0 lead, but a Brian Harding header went high and Hurskainen, in a bit of foreshadowing, made a diving save on a Quarles attempt to keep it 1-0, Keydets, with 28:03 gone by in the first half. In the final 17 minutes of the period, the Keydets outshot Asheville 5-3, but neither team could score and the period ended with VMI up, 1-0.

Herskainen stopped four shots in the first half, but the Keydet defense was strong as well, as the Bulldogs could not muster a shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes. All told, the Keydets put together a streak of 106:09 without allowing a shot on goal, a streak that ended at 50:02, when Himelein scored the tying goal on a header.

From there, a Brian Harding header just moments later went high. In the 61st minute, the Bulldogs appeared to have taken the lead, as a Bryan George shot got behind VMI keeper Brian Sowell. However, David Rochow cut in and cleared the ball away, preserving the tie.

The teams misfired on several shots, and did not post another shot on goal until 74:25, when a David Rochow shot was stopped by Herskainen. 35 seconds later, a Jake Hagedorn shot went wide for the Bulldogs, and at 77:47, Odum got deep into VMI's territory. He sent a shot toward Sowell that appeared to be headed toward the back of the net, but a Keydet defender got in position to deflect the ball away for a team save, keeping the score knotted at one.

That deflection came back to haunt VMI moments later, as UNCA was awarded a corner kick. A Bartles shot off the corner was blocked, and a series of deflections ensued. Sowell appeared to get a hand on one of the tries, but the ball remained loose and Odum put it by the VMI keeper, giving Asheville a 2-1 lead and setting the stage for the final dramatic moments.

VMI outshot UNC Asheville 21-19 on the day, and held a 10-6 edge in shots on goal. Herskainen was the difference, as the Bulldog keeper stopped nine shots on the day, while Sowell made four saves for VMI.

VMI men's soccer will return to action Wednesday, as the Keydets travel to Radford, Va. to take on the Radford Highlanders. The Big South contest is set to begin at 7 p.m.