Jimenez's Late Goal Gives Keydets Tie With PC, 1-1

Women's Soccer VMIKeydets.com

Jimenez's Late Goal Gives Keydets Tie With PC, 1-1

LEXINGTON, Va. – Simone Jimenez tied the match with 46 seconds left in regulation, and the VMI Keydets and Presbyterian College Blue Hose went on to play to a 1-1 deadlock in Big South women's soccer action Saturday afternoon at Patchin Field in Lexington.

After PC (2-8-1, 0-1-1 Big South) scored in the 38th minute and managed that lead throughout the game, a unique sequence set up the eventual tying goal. Blue Hose forward Gracie Boswell, who had scored PC's goal earlier in the match, was whistled for a yellow card with 50 seconds to play, just inside the VMI (3-5-2, 0-1-1 Big South) offensive side of the field.

After the stoppage, the ball was played forward to just outside the box, where the visitors were whistled for a foul, setting up a free kick. Myranda Emery took the try and arched it over the wall, where PC keeper Sarah Beth Anderson appeared to stop it momentarily, but it rolled free at the feet of Jimenez, who tipped it into the net for the clutch score. Each time had a quality chance in overtime, but neither could convert and the match wound up deadlocked, 1-1.

Jimenez's goal was just the third goal scored in the final minute of regulation in VMI women's soccer history, and was surpassed only by an Alexa Bernas goal Oct. 22, 2005 against Asheville, a score that came with only :02 left on the clock.

The contest was evenly played, as VMI held a slim edge in shots 18-17, while Anderson made five saves for PC to four for VMI's Amanda Berrios. The match was also physical, as 29 total fouls were called during Saturday's action.

The match got off to a slow start on the cold, blustery day, with neither side managing a shot until 9:01, when PC got in front of an attempted clearance and managed to deflect the ball back toward the VMI goal. Berrios quickly retreated, however, and made the stop to avert the potential score.

Over the next 24 minutes, although both teams had shots on goal, neither team could strongly test the other's keeper until the 33:14 mark, when VMI's Emery hit the crossbar off a free kick from 20 yards out. Four minutes later, Boswell managed to disrupt a VMI clearance and tip the resultant 1 vs 1 chance over Berrios for the game's first goal, her second score of the year. The rest of the half saw just one shot on goal, which Berrios stopped in the final minute, sending the teams to halftime with PC up, 1-0.

The early portions of the second half were very similar to the first, with a great deal of midfield play and few shots on net. The first try on goal was by Liz Affronti in the 60th minute, which Anderson stopped rather easily. The Keydets, in fact, had the period's first three tries on goal, with Anderson also stopping a Taylor Armstrong effort in the 67th minute and another Affronti offering in the 69th.

After the second Affronti try, the Blue Hose tried to tack on an insurance goal, offering four shots in just under seven minutes. In the 70th minute, Catie Smith was high with an effort, and two minutes later, Abi Thompson had a shot blocked. Morgan Fragapane and Kelly Kozera were also off target during the stretch, as PC had nine second half shots, but none on frame as they nursed their 1-0 advantage.

A PC foul off a corner kick in the 80th minute set up a frantic final 10 minutes. The Keydets had a chance in the 86th minute, when Nicole Blixt had a shot off an Erica Putney corner kick, but the try was wide left. As the Blue Hose continued to look for their second score and VMI sought the equalizer, four fouls were called over the next 3:38. The last of those set the stage for Boswell's yellow card and the ensuing foul, giving Emery the free kick chance with 46 seconds left, and resulting in Jimenez's tying goal and sending the match to overtime.

The best chance in the opening extra 10 minutes belonged to the Keydets, as with under a minute left, Emery found space inside the PC box. She tried a shot in traffic that Anderson appeared to tip, but could not corral, and the loose ball landed at Jimenez's feet, just outside the crowded area Emery had held. Unfortunately for VMI, Jimenez's shot was just over the crossbar and the match headed to a second overtime, still deadlocked at 1-1.

PC had the best chance in the final overtime period, as in the first minute, the VMI back line turned the ball over deep in its own zone. That led to a shot by Sara Simpson that was high, and two minutes later, Berrios made her first save since the opening period, stopping a Rebecca Miller try. VMI's last shot came in the 107th minute, when Erica Putney missed wide left, and a Blue Hose charge in the final seconds was averted by an offside violation, ending the match.

"I am really proud of our group for their performance, particularly at the end of regulation and the overtimes against a very fired up and spunky PC team,” said VMI head coach Bryan Williams. “As with the game Thursday, this game helped us and will help us play better as a team and to become more competitive in our play as we progress further into conference. I really enjoyed the play today of Myranda Emery, as well as the other freshmen, who I feel gave everything they had to give in this match. I also thought Gabby McCarron had a strong match, as she came off the bench and anchored our back line late, and also Simone Jimenez, who found her fifth goal of the year at a most opportune time.”

VMI will return to action Thursday, taking on the Charleston Southern Lady Bucs in N. Charleston, S.C. Game time is set for 4 p.m.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Liz Affronti

#17 Liz Affronti

M/F
5' 5"
Freshman
Taylor Armstrong

#4 Taylor Armstrong

M/D
5' 3"
Junior
Amanda Berrios

#16 Amanda Berrios

F/GK
5' 7"
Senior
Nicole Blixt

#19 Nicole Blixt

D/M
5' 10"
Freshman
Myranda Emery

#20 Myranda Emery

M/F
5' 4"
Freshman
Simone Jimenez

#6 Simone Jimenez

M/F
5' 9"
Junior
Gabby McCarron

#3 Gabby McCarron

D
5' 9"
Senior
Erica Putney

#5 Erica Putney

D
5' 4"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Liz Affronti

#17 Liz Affronti

5' 5"
Freshman
M/F
Taylor Armstrong

#4 Taylor Armstrong

5' 3"
Junior
M/D
Amanda Berrios

#16 Amanda Berrios

5' 7"
Senior
F/GK
Nicole Blixt

#19 Nicole Blixt

5' 10"
Freshman
D/M
Myranda Emery

#20 Myranda Emery

5' 4"
Freshman
M/F
Simone Jimenez

#6 Simone Jimenez

5' 9"
Junior
M/F
Gabby McCarron

#3 Gabby McCarron

5' 9"
Senior
D
Erica Putney

#5 Erica Putney

5' 4"
Freshman
D