VMI Battles Liberty to 0-0 Tie

Men's Soccer VMIKeydets.com

VMI Battles Liberty to 0-0 Tie

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty Flames posted 23 shots, including eight in the two overtime periods, but the VMI Keydet defense held strong and the two teams battled to a 0-0 draw in Big South men's soccer action Tuesday night in Lynchburg, Va.

On the night, Liberty (7-4-1, 2-2 Big South) held a 23-5 edge in shots, but VMI (1-12-2, 1-4-1 Big South) keeper Taylor Feuerstein made five saves, including four in overtime, to keep the Flames off the scoreboard and allow VMI to post the tie.

With the temperature in the mid-70's under partly cloudy skies, the teams began with a great deal of midfield play. In fact, the squads combined for just two shots in the first 21 minutes, one of which was a Matt Seinfeld attempt in the 15th minute that went wide.

Perhaps the evening's best chance for the home team came in the 27th minute, when Uriah Bentick attempted a shot that hit the crossbar and bounded away, keeping the match scoreless. The Keydets may have had their best opportunity 13 minutes later, when Peyton Dekker fired an attempt toward Liberty keeper Scott Sutarik, but the shot hit the post and caromed back into play. VMI did earn a corner off the resultant scrum, but the only shot try the visitors could muster was high, and that would send the contest to halftime scoreless.

The Flames held a 6-3 edge in shots in the opening period, but neither team had a shot on goal in the first 45 minutes. That changed in the 56th minute, when a Bentick try was stopped by Feuerstein. That was the only save the VMI netminder had to make in regulation, but it was not the only strong play necessary by the Keydet defense.

After a VMI foul in the 66th minute, Liberty took possession and, during a span of 7:19 on the clock, earned five corner kicks. The home team, however, could muster just one shot off the corners, a header that was wide right, and the contest stayed scoreless. Weathering that storm seemed to give the Keydets momentum, and they allowed just three shots the rest of regulation, and the match went to extra time scoreless.

The home team turned up its offensive attack in the first overtime, but VMI held fast. Phillip Aseweh and Juan F. Nino had shots on goal, but Feuerstein stopped them, and he did the same to Darren Amoo in the 100th minute, forcing the teams to play a second extra frame. Two minutes in, Feuerstein denied Aseweh again, setting the stage for two VMI shots at the other end. Both attempts were off target, and Liberty could not take advantage of a late corner kick as time expired, and the match ended in a scoreless tie.

The contest was relatively calm, as only 19 total fouls were called. Liberty had nine corner kicks to VMI's three, but Feuerstein's five saves loomed large in the final result. Sutarik was not forced to make a save for Liberty.

VMI will return to action Friday, taking on Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C. Match time is set for 4 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Peyton Dekker

#7 Peyton Dekker

M
6' 0"
Junior
Taylor Feuerstein

#28 Taylor Feuerstein

GK
6' 2"
Junior
Matt Seinfeld

#8 Matt Seinfeld

M
5' 11"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Peyton Dekker

#7 Peyton Dekker

6' 0"
Junior
M
Taylor Feuerstein

#28 Taylor Feuerstein

6' 2"
Junior
GK
Matt Seinfeld

#8 Matt Seinfeld

5' 11"
Junior
M