LEXINGTON, Va.- The VMI men's soccer team was defeated 1-0 by the Winthrop Eagles Sat., Oct. 8 at VMI's Patchin Field. VMI's Matt Seinfeld earned a penalty-kick with under a minute remaining in regulation, but was stopped by Winthrop's Enrique Miranda to preserve the win. The Keydets outshot the Eagles 22-19 overall in the match, including a 16-7 margin in the second half of action.
Senior co-captain Stewart Wilkinson had a team-high three shots on goal, while junior goalkeeper Taylor Feuerstein had seven saves in goal for VMI.
VMI (1-10-1, 1-2 Big South) had the first legitimate opportunity of the contest in the 14th minute, as sophomore Chase Barnett sent a through ball from midfield to the left flank that found classmate Aaron White. White then sent a cross to Seinfeld, who fired narrowly wide right.
Winthrop (3-8, 1-1 Big South) had its top chance of the first stanza with 12:30 left in the half. Defender Josh Goldstein settled a loose ball, and ripped a strike from 40-yards out that rang off the left post to keep the match knotted at 0-0.
Heading into the half, the Eagles outshot the Keydets by a 12-6 margin, and had five corners to VMI's one.
The Eagles broke the scoreless tie just minutes into the second half of play, as Akeem Matthews sent a through ball to Alex Mantchev in the 49th minute. Manthchev then went past a VMI defender, and beat Feuerstein near post to notch the eventual game-winner.
From that point on, VMI controlled the flow of play, generating several high-quality chances. In the 65th minute, Wilkinson broke free inside the 18 and flicked a shot with his right foot that was gobbled up by a sprawling Winthrop keeper Enrique Miranda.
Freshman midfielder Mathieu Wetmore logged quality minutes in the second half, intercepting an Eagle clearance with 16 minutes remaining, and fired the ensuing shot wide left. Eight minutes later, he once again stole a pass from an Eagle defender deep in their own end, and found sophomore Aaron White, who struck a laser that sailed narrowly left.
The deciding moment of the contest came with 27 seconds remaining after White was taken down inside the 18. On the penalty strike, Seinfeld shot lower left as Miranda guessed correctly, turning the attempt away to keep the match at the eventual final of 1-0.
Mantchev led the Eagles with five shots on the afternoon, while Miranda turned away seven shots to earn the clean sheet.
VMI returns to action Wednesday, Oct. 12, as the Keydets travel to Radford, Va. to take on the Radford University Highlanders from Patrick D. Cupp Memorial Stadium. Match time is slated for 7 p.m.
