LEXINGTON, Va.- After holding the Flames scoreless through 98 minutes of action, Liberty's Greg White headed home the game-winner off a Zack Clark corner to take the 1-0 victory Tues., Nov. 2 afternoon at Patchin Field.
The Keydets (2-11-2, 2-5 BSC) were pressured early and often by the Liberty (9-6-1, 4-3 BSC) attack, as the Flames earned a pair of scoring opportunities in the opening 15 minutes of action. The first came on a Juan Nino free-kick from 40 yards out, that took a tricky hop, forcing VMI keeper Brian Sowell to make a diving stop to his left. Less than seven minutes later, Nino again challenged the Keydet back line with a promising strike from the right flank that was blocked by the Keydet defense.
With the first half being more of a midfield battle, scoring chances were hard to come by. VMI earned its top offensive opportunity of the opening frame with 13 minutes to play, as senior Kurt Zimmerman was taken down 25-yards out, resulting in a free-kick by Kip Zechman. The sophomore lined the ensuing try narrowly over the crossbar.
Liberty nearly took the lead in the waning moments of the first half, as Thad Taylor took a shot with 3:56 remaining from 30-yards out. The shot from the left flank clipped the right post of the goal, giving the Flames their third goal-scoring opportunity of the match.
Heading into the half, Liberty held a 10-4 shot margin, to go along with a 3-2 corner kick advantage.
The second half belonged to Sowell, who almost singlehandedly kept the Keydets in the match. His first save of the second frame robbed one of the Big South's most potent scoring combinations, Darren Amoo and Phillip Aseweh, as Amoo hit Asheweh with a through ball at the top of the 18. Aseweh's point-blank rocket was turned away by Sowell diving to his left to keep the match at 0-0.
With 31:24 left to play, Sowell thwarted another Flame attack, as Nino broke free inside the six, but was once again by the VMI keeper, deflecting a shot to his right.
With the match tied 0-0 with 19:41 remaining, the Keydets began to generate opportunities offensively. They began with a brilliant, 25-yard run down the left flank by Ayao Sossou. The junior defender dodged a pair of defenders, but fired a blast that went high to the left of the frame as the match remained knotted at 0-0.
Shortly later, the Keydets earned a free-kick that was taken by senior Brian Harding. As opposed to taking a shot, Harding sent a chip shot in the found the head of Zimmerman, but the header sailed wide over the crossbar.The final Keydet chance in regulation came with 3:49 left on the game clock, as a Jacob MacIntyre head off an Amir Shihata corner went wide, sending the match into overtime.
Sowell came up big once again early in the extra-session, as Liberty's Alex Verville fired a strike from the left flank that was stopped by Sowell. However, the Flame attack continued to press on, earning a corner kick with just over two minutes remaining, which resulted in the game-winner off the head of White.
VMI was outshot in the contest by a 23-10 margin, and the Flames held an 8-4 corner kick advantage on the afternoon.
Sowell made six saves in the losing effort, while Liberty's Paul Gilbert was untested in the win. Aseweh, Alex Verville and Nino all had four shots for Liberty, while Shihata, Harding and MacIntyre each had a pair for VMI.
VMI concludes regular-season play Sat., Nov. 6, at the squad hosts Presbyterian from Patchin Field on Senior Day. The match is slated for a noon kick. Liberty wraps up its regular-season by hosting UNC Asheville at 11 a.m., in a match that is also slated for Saturday.
