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Men's Soccer 9/1/2009 7:15:00 PM VMIKeydets.com

Men's Soccer Falls to Mount St. Mary's

Box Score LEXINGTON, Va. – Despite an evenly contested first 75 minutes of Tuesday's matchup, the VMI Keydets dropped their 2009 season opener to Mount St. Mary's, 4-0 at Patchin Field.

The two teams engaged in a defensive battle for the majority of the contest, as they combined for just 11 shots in the game's opening half. However, a four-goal burst by the Mount over the final 13-plus minutes of the contest gave them the victory.

Mount St. Mary's attempted the first four shots of the game, with VMI netminder Brian Sowell making two saves in the first 16 minutes to keep the game scoreless. The teams then exchanged shots over the next 10 minutes, with Mount netminder Chris Davis being forced into action at 32:07, when Brian Harding had a near-goal stopped. The visitors came back in the 38th minute, when Alex Kem headed a ball towards the net. However, Sowell made a spectacular save with an all-out, full-length dive to keep the Mount off the scoreboard.

The Keydets' best chance of the opening half, and perhaps of the game, came in the 42nd minute. Freshman Forrest Moul, just in to the game, made a run down the left sideline. He found classmate David Rochow well into the box for a header attempt, but Davis stopped Rochow's efforts and kept the score knotted at halftime, 0-0.

The teams traded shots in the opening 1:16 of the second half, and then settled into midfield play for the next 13 minutes. Harding was stopped by Davis in the 59th minute, thanks to a sprawling dive, and Sowell responded two minutes later to prolong the scoreless tie. Finally, in the 76th minute of the contest, the Mount's Scott Phinith made a run into VMI territory. He found teammate Kem across the box, and Kem nailed home the pass for a 1-0 lead for the visitors. The Mountaineers scored again moments later to go ahead 2-0, and added two further goals late, including the final score on a penalty kick, to account for the final margin.

The Mount's 10-2 advantage in second-half shot attempts proved to be crucial, and helped them move to 1-0 on the young season. Phinith had two assists for the Mount, while four different players accounted for the goals. VMI falls to 0-1 with the loss, despite six saves from Sowell. Davis made four saves for the visiting squad.

The Keydets return to action Friday, as they travel to Johnson City, Tenn. to take on the East Tennessee State Buccaneers. Game time is set for 5 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#18 Brian Harding: M; 5' 11"; Junior

#3 Forrest Moul: M; 5' 7"; Freshman

#23 David Rochow: D; 6' 0"; Freshman

#0 Brian Sowell: GK; 6' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#18 Brian Harding
: 5' 11"; Junior
: M

#3 Forrest Moul
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: M

#23 David Rochow
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: D

#0 Brian Sowell
: 6' 3"; Junior
: GK