Women's Soccer 10/30/2009 6:47:00 PM VMIKeydets.com

Seniors Lead Women?s Soccer to First-Ever Win over Radford, 2-1

LEXINGTON, Va. – The VMI women's soccer team made its Senior Day one to remember, as both of the team's goals were scored by seniors in a 2-1 win over Radford in each team's Big South Conference finale Friday afternoon at Patchin Field.

The win for the Keydets (7-10, 5-4 Big South) marked the first-ever in the series against the Highlanders (8-10, 5-4 Big South). VMI had dropped each of the previous seven meetings between the in-state rivals, including a 2-1 decision in last season's Big South Championship Semifinals.

“What a terrific win against a very good Radford team,” said VMI head coach Bryan Williams. “It was a great way for us to acknowledge our senior class, with the way we stepped up at halftime to get into them and find two terrific goals against one of the top goalkeepers in the conference. It's tremendous to go 5-4 in conference and to finish out the season at home with a win, which is the way it should be.”

The visitors got on the board first, striking just before halftime when junior forward SharDavia Bell looped a cross from the right side into the box. There waiting was redshirt sophomore Molly Hill, who finished from inside the 18-yard box for her first goal of the season, coming in the game's 42nd minute.

The Highlanders went into the break controlling both the shot count (9-4) and the corner kick tally (4-1), holding on to a 1-0 lead. That advantage did not last long after halftime, as the Keydets netted their first goal early in the period. In the 54th minute, junior defender Jen Ball sent a ball into the box from the right flank, where senior Kat Underwood knocked in her second career goal.

“Jen did an awesome job on the goal that got us back into the match,” said Williams. “She served up a strong cross in for Kat Underwood, who plugged a great head ball in the back of the net on that left side for us. It was a terrific goal, right when we needed it.”

The Highlanders nearly answered just four minutes later, when Bell knocked in a corner kick by senior Justine Dugger. The goal, however, was waved off as a foul was called on Bell getting into position for the would-be goal.

Instead, the Keydets struck for the go-ahead score in the 67th minute. Senior Chrissy Beach freed herself with a crossover and unleashed a perfectly-placed, curling shot over Radford keeper Lisa Lubke from 20 yards out to net her first game-winner against a Big South opponent.

“I was very proud of everyone's play,” said Williams. “We got great play out of Chrissy Beach, attacking the end line today. She scored the game-winner on a tremendous shot coming from the right side over top of their keeper to the back-side of the goal. I've been looking for that shot from her all season long, and she finally plunked it in.”

The Highlanders had several chances in the final 22 minutes of the match, uncorking six more shots. Keydet keeper Angela Redmond was equal to the task though, ending the match with eight saves to give VMI its fifth home win of the season.

“Angela had a terrific game,” continued Williams. “She continues to be consistent. She definitely has the entire team believing in her, and she absolutely made the difference anchoring that back line for us today.”

Radford held a 21-12 advantage in shots for the match while also taking 10 corner kicks to VMI's three. Lubke was credited with five saves in the Highlander net, while Dugger paced the visitors with four shots, including three on goal.

The Keydets return to action on Sunday afternoon, wrapping up the regular season with a non-conference match at South Carolina State. Both teams will then advance to the Big South Championship next week, being hosted at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C. The tournament's quarterfinals will begin on Thursday, Nov. 5, while pairings and schedules will be announced by the Big South office on Sunday evening.

Print Friendly Version