RADFORD, Va.- Despite the first goal of the season from junior Kip Zechman in the 74th minute, the VMI men's soccer team was defeated 4-1 by the Radford Highlanders Thurs., Oct. 12 at Radford's Patrick D. Cupp Memorial Stadium.
After a scoreless first half, Radford's Luis Grande scored the first goal of the match in the 66th minute on a failed clearance from the VMI defense. Grande beat VMI goalkeeper Taylor Feuerstein on the VMI misplay.
Two minutes later, Radford (6-6, 2-2 Big South) added to the tally, as an Anthony Payne corner connected with James Jordan, who headed the service home to beat Feuerstein and give the Highlanders a pair of goals in a 1:12 and a 2-0 advantage.
VMI (1-10-1, 1-3 Big South) cut the lead in half in the 74th minute, as freshman Blake McCauley fed Zechman for his second assist of the season. Zechman took the ensuing pass and ripped a shot past Radford goalkeeper Dane Wilson for Zechman's first score of the season.
The Highlanders put the game out of reach in the 85th minute, as one of the top goal scorers in the conference, Iyiola Awoskisa, took a pass from Kevin Fleming inside the 18, beat a defender, and stuck the lower-corner of the net for his eighth goal of the season and gave Radford the 3-1 lead. The Highlanders tacked on a score in the 89th minute on a VMI own goal for the final tally of the contest.
Radford outshot VMI 22-6 on the match, as the split was 11-3 in each half. Junior Matt Seinfeld had three shots for VMI, while Grande and Chel Ho Kim Park had six shots apiece for Radford. Feuerstien made six saves in goal for the Keydets, while Wilson had one stop for VMI.
VMI returns to action on Sat., Oct. 15, hosting the Garner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs from Patchin Field. Match time is slated for 4 p.m.
