Despite Manis' First Half Goal, Keydets Fall 2-1

Women's Soccer VMIKeydets.com

Despite Manis' First Half Goal, Keydets Fall 2-1

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The VMI Keydets took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at halftime, but the USC Upstate Spartans scored both of the game's second half goals, including the tiebreaker in the 87th minute, to claim the victory in women's soccer action Friday night in Spartanburg, S.C. The contest was the season opener for both teams.

After an Emma Manis goal had propelled VMI (0-1) to a halftime advantage, Upstate (1-0) tied the match in the 67th minute on a score by Courtney DeBlois. That set up a dramatic finish, as the Keydets nearly went ahead in the 74th minute before a loose ball in the 87th minute spelled the end for VMI. Hailey Venable recovered for Upstate just in front of the VMI net and laid the ball off to Haley Gethin, who put the shot past Keydet keeper Emily Marbury for the eventual game-winner.

On the day, USC Upstate held a small edge in shots, 10-6, while the Keydets held the 4-2 edge in corner kicks, including 3-1 in the second half. Sydnie Bligh was the only Keydet with multiple shot attempts, posting two, while DeBlois and Kenzie Major combined for eight of the home team's 10 tries.

The two Keydet goalkeepers split time in net, with Liz Nickerson stopping three first half shots before being relieved by Marbury, who also posted three saves. Sarah Plantz did not record a save for the Spartans.

After an early midfield struggle, Manis got the Keydets on the board with just the second shot of the game. After an Upstate foul, the freshman lined up a free kick from 21 yards out and directed it straight at the goal. The shot eluded Plantz and found the back of the net, giving VMI a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute. It was a key moment for the Keydets, as the team had not scored in its final four games of the 2012 season. 

Nickerson made that margin hold up, stopping three of the four home team's shots in the opening period while the other try went wide. The freshman netminder turned aside Major in the 32nd minute and DeBlois in the 40th, after also stopping another try earlier in the period, and the Keydets went to halftime still up 1-0 in a game that had seen just seven first half shots.

Upstate increased its pressure somewhat early in the second half, but Marbury made saves on each of the Spartans' first three shots on goal and, after a save of a header at 64:07, the Keydets still had a 1-0 lead. The home team, however, broke through just under two minutes later, when Major took a Rachel Carr pass and launched a cross from the right side of the field. The ball found the foot of DeBlois, who put it into the net to knot the score, 1-1.

The visitors came right back as VMI had the next two shots on the board, but the key moment of the night came in the 74th minute. At the 73:51 mark, a Killian Buckley shot hit the post and bounced away, keeping the match deadlocked at 1 apiece. That would be the final Keydet shot attempt of the evening, as the next try by either squad was Gethin's game-winner in the 87th minute.

VMI women's soccer will return to action August 30, taking on East Tennessee State in a road matchup. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Sydnie Bligh

#18 Sydnie Bligh

D/M
5' 9"
Sophomore
Killian Buckley

#7 Killian Buckley

D
5' 2"
Junior
Emily Marbury

#1 Emily Marbury

GK
5' 5"
Freshman
Liz Nickerson

#0 Liz Nickerson

GK
5' 4"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Sydnie Bligh

#18 Sydnie Bligh

5' 9"
Sophomore
D/M
Killian Buckley

#7 Killian Buckley

5' 2"
Junior
D
Emily Marbury

#1 Emily Marbury

5' 5"
Freshman
GK
Liz Nickerson

#0 Liz Nickerson

5' 4"
Sophomore
GK