Men's Soccer Hosts Adelphi Sunday

Men's Soccer VMIKeydets.com

VMI Falls to Radford, 3-0

Box Score RADFORD, Va. – Two second half goals by Iyiola Awosika propelled Radford to a 3-0 win over VMI in a Big South men's soccer contest played Wednesday night at Cupp Stadium in Radford, Va.

With Radford clinging to a 1-0 halftime lead, Awosika scored an insurance goal just 1:51 into the second half. The Highlander forward recovered a loose ball near the top of the box, and maneuvered it into the middle of the field before firing a shot that beat VMI keeper Brian Sowell, giving the home team a 2-0 lead. From there, the sophomore added on at 86:30, when he jumped on a loose ball near midfield and simply beat the defense the rest of the way, giving him a clear shot and Radford its final margin, 3-0.

With the win, the Highlanders move to 4-6-2 overall and 1-3-2 in the Big South, while VMI falls to 2-10-1 on the year and 1-3 in conference action.

The first 8:25 of Wednesday night's game went by without a shot before Sowell was tested by RU's James Jordan. The VMI keeper made the stop, as did Highlander keeper Ryan Taylor on the Keydets' first shot on goal nine minutes later. After that John Sisco attempt, there were three errant shot tries before Brian Harding put an attempt on net at 28:56, only to have it saved by Taylor, keeping the game scoreless.

Less than four minutes later, Radford mounted an offensive charge. The home team drew a pair of corners, and the resultant offense helped set up the game's first goal. In the 35th minute, Justin Zimmer controlled the ball on the far sideline. He found James Leith, who fired a shot from 10 yards out that found the back of the net, putting the Highlanders up 1-0. After the goal, the Keydets were able to test Taylor once more in the half, but the Radford goalie stopped a David Rochow shot, maintaining the Highlander 1-0 advantage at halftime.

The second half began with Awosika firing a shot high at 45:51, and then a minute later, notching the game's second goal to push his team's edge to 2-0. The Highlanders kept up the pressure, firing four shots at Sowell in the next eight minutes. The final two were on goal, but the VMI keeper easily stopped the first and made a spectacular, diving save to his left to snare the second at 54:48, keeping the margin at 2-0.

The Keydets mustered a shot at 57:33, but to no avail, and the Highlanders countered with another test of Sowell. Once again, the VMI keeper dove to his left with an all-out effort, stopping the shot to keep the score 2-0.

Neither team could muster another attempt until 72:01, when Amir Shihata was high with an attempt, as was Ayao Sossou just over five minutes later. Radford countered with a pair of shots of its own, beginning at 79:12, both of which were also over the goal. The Highlanders had the next shot on goal, coming at 83:54, when Sowell stopped a Robert Thomsen attempt, but the VMI keeper could not snare Awosika's attempt less than three minutes later. The two goals scored by Awosika, last year's Big South Freshman of the Year, were his first and second markers of the season, and the second score accounted for Wednesday's final margin.

Radford outshot VMI 19-10 in earning the win, while the Highlanders also held an 8-3 edge in shots on goal. Sowell stopped five shots for the Keydets, while Taylor snared three for Radford. Finally, the Highlanders were whistled for six offside violations to just one for VMI.

VMI men's soccer will return to action Sunday, as the Keydets travel to Conway, S.C. to take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Brian Harding

#18 Brian Harding

M
5' 11"
Junior
David Rochow

#23 David Rochow

D
6' 0"
Freshman
Amir Shihata

#10 Amir Shihata

M
5' 9"
Sophomore
John Sisco

#12 John Sisco

M
6' 0"
Junior
Ayao Sossou

#44 Ayao Sossou

D
5' 6"
Sophomore
Brian Sowell

#0 Brian Sowell

GK
6' 3"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Brian Harding

#18 Brian Harding

5' 11"
Junior
M
David Rochow

#23 David Rochow

6' 0"
Freshman
D
Amir Shihata

#10 Amir Shihata

5' 9"
Sophomore
M
John Sisco

#12 John Sisco

6' 0"
Junior
M
Ayao Sossou

#44 Ayao Sossou

5' 6"
Sophomore
D
Brian Sowell

#0 Brian Sowell

6' 3"
Junior
GK