Women's Soccer Continues Road Swing at Mount

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Women's Soccer Falls Just Short in Double Overtime, 2-1

RADFORD, Va. – A goal in the 108th minute was the game-winner, as the Radford Lady Highlanders edged the VMI Keydets 2-1 in Big South women's soccer action, contested Friday night in Radford, Va. The match was the regular season finale for both teams.

With just 2:39 left in the final extra frame, Radford's Latrice Lee beat VMI keeper Heidi Beemer for the second time in the match, scoring off an assist from Julie Ruh'e. The loss drops VMI to 3-15-1 overall, and 2-6-1 in the Big South, while Radford runs its record to 12-6-1 and 6-2-1 in conference action.

The match saw Radford outshoot VMI 33-5, but Beemer and fellow keeper Angela Redmond, who played the opening half, combined for 12 saves behind a solid effort by the VMI back line.

“Our team played very well tonight,” said VMI head coach Bryan Williams. “In fact, this was the best match we have played all season. Our defense flexed very well, and dealt with the tools they used in their attack. We were able to get in a good flow defensively in the first 20 minutes, and Kacey Hall and Christina Gontarski did a great job at the outside back positions. Kelly Morrison and Gabby McCarron played well in the middle, and both of the keepers did a solid job as well.”

Radford controlled the ball early in Friday's match, producing four corner kicks and four shots in the opening 8:17. Redmond made three saves, however, and the match remained scoreless. The Lady Highlanders also registered the next 10 shots, but only one was on frame as VMI was able to keep the majority of the shots outside until the Keydets could generate their first offensive attack, which came in the 32nd minute. Both Amanda Berrios and Taylor Armstrong registered shots, but neither could find the frame and the match remained scoreless.

Radford forced Redmond to make another save, her fifth, at 37:19 before Armstrong tried VMI's third shot of the opening half. This one found the frame, but was stopped by RU keeper Alex Traughber to keep the match scoreless going to halftime.

Early in the second half, the Keydets got on the board. Carolyn Kenaley, playing her final regular season match, played a strong cross towards the goal in the 59th minute. Christelle Ndongo was in position and headed the ball home, giving VMI a 1-0 advantage. Kenaley had no career assists entering this past Sunday's game with Liberty, and now has one in each of her final two regular season contests.

“We really frustrated them at forward and midfield,” said Coach Williams. “That put us in good position at halftime, and the goal was terrific. To go up at that point was great, as we had a great buildup and service in to get there.”

Radford countered in the 70th minute, as Lee made an individual move to get in position and beat Beemer from in close, scoring unassisted to knot the match at 1. The RU forward had another chance just three minutes later, but Beemer turned that attempt aside.

At 72:54, the Lady Highlanders had another strong shot on goal, but VMI came up with a team save, as a defender deflected the ball away. The home team only managed two shots the remainder of regulation, while the Keydets had a chance in the final minute. Berrios played a corner kick towards the net, and Hall got free for a shot. The try, however, went high and sent the match to overtime.

In the first extra frame, neither team could muster a shot on goal. The Lady Highlanders did have three shots overall, but VMI defenders blocked two of them, helping send the match to a second overtime.

Beemer opened up the final overtime with a save 1:22 in, and the Keydets earned a pair of corner kicks in the 105th minute. Those kicks, however, went for naught, and on the counterattack, Ruh'e slipped the pass through the defense to Lee for the game-winner.

“This was a fun match, and our team played great,” said Coach Williams. “We were able to put together similar offensive chances to our goal several times, as Amanda (Berrios) generated a lot of great opportunities up top. Sarah Strand did a solid job at center midfield, and that really helped against a very good Radford team. That match came down to who would make a mistake and let the other team in, and unfortunately, we made that error. Still, I felt like we defended wonderfully, even though they did get a lot of shots off.”

VMI women's soccer will return to action Thursday, Nov. 4, as the Big South Championships get underway in Radford. VMI's opponent and start time is currently unknown, and largely dependent on the outcome of Saturday's Winthrop/Coastal Carolina match.

“I think we're on a positive upswing going into the tournament,” offered Coach Williams. “Tonight was a tough loss, in the sense that we had a chance to win, or at least tie this match. The team, however, is positive and excited for the tournament. Tonight, we played like the team we've been the past two or three years. We don't know who we will play Thursday, but pushing a team like Radford to the limit was a lot of fun, and the group sees what we haven't seen all year, the ability to play with any team at any point.”

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Players Mentioned

Taylor Armstrong

#4 Taylor Armstrong

M/D
5' 3"
Sophomore
Heidi Beemer

#1 Heidi Beemer

GK
5' 10"
Senior
Amanda Berrios

#16 Amanda Berrios

M/F
5' 7"
Junior
Christina Gontarski

#14 Christina Gontarski

M/F
5' 5"
Junior
Kacey Hall

#22 Kacey Hall

M/F
5' 5"
Sophomore
Carolyn Kenaley

#8 Carolyn Kenaley

MF
5' 3"
Senior
Gabby McCarron

#3 Gabby McCarron

D
5' 9"
Junior
Kelly Morrison

#11 Kelly Morrison

D/M
5' 7"
Junior
Christelle Ndongo

#2 Christelle Ndongo

F/D
6' 1"
Sophomore
Angela Redmond

#00 Angela Redmond

GK
5' 6"
Senior
Sarah Strand

#10 Sarah Strand

MF
5' 9"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Taylor Armstrong

#4 Taylor Armstrong

5' 3"
Sophomore
M/D
Heidi Beemer

#1 Heidi Beemer

5' 10"
Senior
GK
Amanda Berrios

#16 Amanda Berrios

5' 7"
Junior
M/F
Christina Gontarski

#14 Christina Gontarski

5' 5"
Junior
M/F
Kacey Hall

#22 Kacey Hall

5' 5"
Sophomore
M/F
Carolyn Kenaley

#8 Carolyn Kenaley

5' 3"
Senior
MF
Gabby McCarron

#3 Gabby McCarron

5' 9"
Junior
D
Kelly Morrison

#11 Kelly Morrison

5' 7"
Junior
D/M
Christelle Ndongo

#2 Christelle Ndongo

6' 1"
Sophomore
F/D
Angela Redmond

#00 Angela Redmond

5' 6"
Senior
GK
Sarah Strand

#10 Sarah Strand

5' 9"
Junior
MF