Box Score
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Fighting through hurricane-like conditions, the Virginia Military Institute men's soccer team was edged out 3-2 against host North Carolina State University Monday evening at Dail Soccer Field.
With winds upwards of 20 miles per hour in a steady direction, all five of the game's goals were scored on the same end of the field. The Wolfpack (10-8-0) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first half, but once the Keydets had the wind at their backs, they nearly knotted the game, striking twice in the second half.
VMI (2-13-1) got its goals from two different players, first with Zaher Shihata notching his first career marker with 30 minutes left in the game. Matt Seinfeld was given credit on the assist after playing a through ball for his teammate. With just under six minutes left in the contest, Kyle Farmer logged his second marker of the year, with co-captain David Rochow on the back end.
The Wolfpack jumped out to an early lead just 11 minutes into the game as Nazmi Albadawi scored on a double assist from Danny DiPrima and Matt Ingram. NC State doubled its lead just six minutes later on an Alex Martinez marker. Only two minutes, the Pack gained a 3-0 advantage on Mortiz Steidten's first goal of the year. Martinez had the assist.
Fighting through heavy wind and rain, VMI's keeper Daniel Kitchen made a pair of saves in his 90 minutes and utilized the wind at his back in the second half to send his team forward on offense, often booming punts well past the midfield line. NC State's keeper, Joe Mills, made five stops.
Despite falling to 1-4-1 against teams from North Carolina this season, all six games have been decided by one goal or less, in the case of VMI's 0-0 draw with No. 23 High Point University.
VMI was narrowly out-shot 10-9 on an evening which featured less than favorable footing. But the Keydets managed to put seven of their nine shots on cage. Shihata and Kip Zechman each took a pair of shots. Martinez led not only NC State, but the game as well, taking seven attempts.
NC State was often the aggressor on offense, but was called offisdes on five occasions, while VMI was whistled just once. The Keydets were called for 10 fouls in the tilt, including a yellow card, while NC State was called eight times. Each team tallied three corner kicks.
The Keydets wrap up their 2012 schedule on Saturday when they host Big South Conference opponent Presbyterian College. That game, which will serve as senior day for VMI, is slated for 1 p.m. at Patchin Field.
