Men's Soccer Defeats Longwood, 4-2

Men's Soccer VMIKeydets.com

Men's Soccer Defeats Longwood, 4-2

Box Score LEXINGTON, Va. – Boosted by four players scoring their first collegiate goals, the VMI men's soccer team earned its first win of the season Saturday afternoon, knocking off the Longwood Lancers 4-2 at Patchin Field.

With the score deadlocked at two in the 72nd minute of play, the Keydets were fouled on the Longwood (1-5-2) side of the field and Kip Zechman took the resulting kick. Despite a steady, persistent rain that had soaked the field throughout, the freshman was able to nail the kick into the box and Brandon Gary was in perfect position to head the ball past Longwood keeper Ben Eanes. The goal was Gary's first collegiate marker, and it gave the Keydets (1-6) a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish. Will Quarles added an insurance goal in the 87th minute, accounting for the final margin.

In spite of the weather conditions, the Keydets got on the board early Saturday, scoring in just the second minute of action. After a series of passes on the far side of the field, Zechman blasted a shot from about 25 yards out, beating Eanes to the keeper's right. The VMI midfielder's first collegiate goal was assisted by John Sisco.

Shortly after Zechman's goal, the rain began to briefly let up, but neither team could take advantage of the improved conditions. Longwood tested VMI keeper Adrian Dominguez at 11:42, but the sophomore stopped Kevin Chico's shot to maintain the Keydets' 1-0 lead. VMI responded by taking the game's next four shots. Brian Harding forced Eanes to make a save at 24:20, keeping the score 1-0.

The Lancers responded by mounting their own threat, as they controlled the next several minutes of play. Beginning at the 33:05 mark, the visitors had three shots blocked by VMI defenders over a two-minute span. The Keydets were able to clear the ball, and neither team seriously threatened during the remainder of the half.

During halftime, the rain steadily increased in intensity, and that played a definite factor in the remainder of the contest. No shots were taken in the opening five minutes of the second half, with the first attempt coming off the foot of VMI's Zechman at 50:05. Eanes stopped that effort easily, and four minutes later, the Lancers tied the game. A corner kick was kicked short, and Brian Germain got free for Longwood. He fired a shot from well outside the box, but located it well enough to beat Dominguez and tie the contest at one.

With the rain continuing to fall, Longwood pushed for the go-ahead goal. The Lancers had a pair of shots blocked after Germain's goal, and VMI came right back with another Zechman attempt that was stopped by Eanes. In the 62nd minute, Brian Harding had possession on the far side of the field, and was able to place a cross into the box that Eanes got a hand on. However, Forrest Moul was in perfect position to corral the rebound and tip it by the Longwood keeper, giving the Keydets a 2-1 edge.

Moul's first collegiate goal came with 28:38 left to play, but the Lancers came back quickly, scoring just three minutes later. Harvey Headley made a solo run down the middle of the field, beating the VMI defenders and firing a one-on-one attempt past Dominguez to tie the score at two.

Once again, Longwood followed a goal with a serious attempt to go ahead. Four Lancer shots in the 67th minute went for naught as the VMI defense held fast, setting the stage for Zechman's pass to Gary for the go-ahead goal at 71:43. Neither team could muster serious offensive efforts for the next several minutes, due in large part to the rain causing poor traction.

At 86:19, VMI's Quarles made a run deep into Longwood territory. Eanes came out to stop his shot, but could only tip it. The ball rolled past the Longwood keeper and into the net, giving the Keydets the 4-2 lead, Quarles his first collegiate goal and accounting for the final margin.

In the contest, VMI was outshot 20-12 but bested the Lancers in shots-on-goal, 8-4. Eanes stopped four shots for Longwood in his first collegiate start, while Dominguez had a pair of saves for the Keydets as he earned his first win in a VMI uniform. Saturday's contest also marked a decided improvement for the VMI offense, as the Keydets have now scored six goals in their last two games after going scoreless in the season's initial five contests.

VMI men's soccer will return to action Wednesday, as the Keydets travel to Huntington, W. Va. to take on Marshall. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Adrian Dominguez

#28 Adrian Dominguez

GK
6' 4"
Freshman
Brandon Gary

#5 Brandon Gary

D
5' 11"
Sophomore
Brian Harding

#18 Brian Harding

M
5' 11"
Junior
Forrest Moul

#3 Forrest Moul

M
5' 7"
Freshman
John Sisco

#12 John Sisco

M
6' 0"
Junior
Kip Zechman

#20 Kip Zechman

M
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Adrian Dominguez

#28 Adrian Dominguez

6' 4"
Freshman
GK
Brandon Gary

#5 Brandon Gary

5' 11"
Sophomore
D
Brian Harding

#18 Brian Harding

5' 11"
Junior
M
Forrest Moul

#3 Forrest Moul

5' 7"
Freshman
M
John Sisco

#12 John Sisco

6' 0"
Junior
M
Kip Zechman

#20 Kip Zechman

6' 1"
Freshman
M