VMI Falls to #16 Coastal, 4-1

Men's Soccer VMIKeydets.com

VMI Falls to #16 Coastal, 4-1

CONWAY, S.C. – Three second-half goals broke open a close match, and despite an Ayao Sossou penalty kick, the #16 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers defeated the VMI Keydets, 4-1, in Big South men's soccer action Friday in Conway, S.C.

Coastal (13-2, 6-0 Big South) held a 30-3 edge in shots on the day and a 10-2 edge in shots on goal, as the Chanticleers controlled the pace of the game. Ashton Bennett, one of the nation's leading scorers, had a goal and two assists to lead the way for the home team.

On the Keydet (1-13-2, 1-6-1 Big South) side, Adrian Dominguez made seven saves in a spot start in goal, while Sossou's successful penalty kick marked his first goal of the year.

The home team had its first chance quite early on the 64-degree day, as a TeeJay East shot was stopped by Dominguez just 99 seconds into the match. The next several minutes were handled in the midfield for the most part, as Coastal managed three shots over the next 15 minutes, with none of those being on goal.

The Chanticleers threatened again in the 17th minute, when Ricky Garbanzo put a shot toward Dominguez, but the attempt clanged off the post and bounded away. The VMI keeper then stopped a pair of shots, one at 19:46 and one at 23:23, as the match remained scoreless.

Coastal kept the pressure on, however, and after three more shots went astray, the Chanticleers converted in the 29th minute. A Justin Portillo corner was played to Bennett, who lofted a pass toward the left side of the net, where Cyprian Hedrick was waiting. Hedrick converted on the shot to put the home team up, 1-0.

Another Coastal shot bounced off the post in the 34th minute, and Dominguez turned aside Pedro Ribeiro moments later to preserve the 1-0 deficit. The VMI netminder made another save in the 43rd minute, turning aside the half's final shot on goal and keeping the Coastal lead at just one.

The second half saw more of the same, with a great deal of shots being attempted. Coastal tested Dominguez again at 52:26, but he was up to the task, and VMI countered with a shot by Matt Seinfeld at 53:14, the Keydets' first shot attempt of the match. Seinfeld then tried Coastal keeper Scott Angevine in the 61st minute, but the netminder made the save. On Coastal's next possession, Garbanzo had the ball in the box and lofted a pass for Bennett, who headed it by Dominguez for the 63rd minute goal, and a 2-0 Chanticleer advantage.

From there, neither team could generate many scoring chances until the 83rd minute, when a Coastal foul led to Sossou's penalty kick. He calmly rifled the try by Angevine, cutting the deficit in half, 2-1 with under seven minutes to go.

Unfortunately for the visitors, the home team came right back. Two shot tries, one each in the 85th and 86th minutes, went astray, but in the 88th minute, Coastal found the insurance goal. Bennett had the ball on the right side of the 18-yard box, and was able to connect with Noah Anthony in the center of the box. Anthony fired a shot from 10 yards out, beating Dominguez and giving Coastal a 3-1 edge. The Chanticleers would add an own goal late, accounting for the final margin of 4-1.

VMI will return to action Saturday, Oct. 29, taking on Campbell in Buies Creek, N.C. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Adrian Dominguez

#0 Adrian Dominguez

GK
6' 4"
Senior
Matt Seinfeld

#8 Matt Seinfeld

M
5' 11"
Junior
Ayao Sossou

#4 Ayao Sossou

M
5' 6"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Adrian Dominguez

#0 Adrian Dominguez

6' 4"
Senior
GK
Matt Seinfeld

#8 Matt Seinfeld

5' 11"
Junior
M
Ayao Sossou

#4 Ayao Sossou

5' 6"
Senior
M