Post game interview with Alex Hartman and Kyle Forché at the bottom.
LYNCHBURG, Va. - The last time the Virginia Military Institute men's soccer team beat Liberty University, Alex Hartman had not even been born. But that changed Tuesday night as the rookie pushed home the game-winning goal to give the Keydets a 3-2 victory in Big South Conference action at Osborne Stadium.
In the waning moments of the game, Hartman sailed in a free ball after a Liberty foul. The long cross found Kyle Forché, who attempted a bicycle kick. The shot sailed flat across the goalmouth to a waiting Hartman, who scored the game-winner, giving VMI its first come-from-behind win since Sept. 5, 2007.
Hartman's winner, VMI's first over Liberty since 1990, gave the Keydets their first win of the season and leveled their record in Big South play at 1-1-0. Not only was it the team's first win since Oct. 20, 2012, but was the first road win for any of the Institute's teams of the 2013-14 season.
Forché finished the night as the game's leading point scorer, netting a goal in the 70th minute to tie the game at 2-2. Blake McCauley gave VMI (1-6-1) a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute on a pass from Aaron White. Andrew Starnes got his first assist of the year on Forché's tally.
Liberty (3-3-0, 0-2-0 BSC) got its goals from Blessing Tahuona and Sachem Wilson, with Jamie Foxwell getting the assist on the Tahuona goal.
The Keydets rallied behind Daniel Kitchen, who made five saves in goal while facing 18 total shots from the Flames. Liberty out-shot VMI by 10 attempts, taking nine in each half while VMI managed eight, with six coming in the second stanza. Flames keeper Sam Chappell made just one save on the night while allowing three goals.
Liberty took seven corner kicks during the match, with four in the first half and three in the second. VMI earned just two, with one in each period. Liberty's offense was aggressive, but was whistled five times for offisdes while VMI was called just twice.
The Keydets got on the board first, snapping a 356 minute scoreless drought, dating back to the 14th minute of the James Madison University game on Sept. 11. After a Liberty foul, White sent in a long cross from 30 yards out the McCauley tipped home to the top right corner. The lead was VMI's first since the 10th minute of its home opener against NJIT on Sept. 6.
But Liberty knotted the game in the 27th minute as Tahuona converted a long throw from Foxwell. Tahuona's shot was one of nine Liberty took in the first half, while VMI tallied just two attempts.
In goal, Kitchen made a trio of stops in the first half while Liberty's Chappell was held without a save in the first 45 minutes. The Flames held the advantage on the corners, taking four while VMI earned just one. Each team was whistled for offsides once in the opening half.
The Flames jumped out to a 2-1 lead early in the second half as Wilson pushed home his first shot of the day from 20 yards out on a blast to the right corner.
Ten minutes later in the 70th minute, Forché netted his first goal of the season, receiving a beautiful pass in the box from Starnes. The resulting play gave each player the first points of their season and tied the game at 2-2.
After a five-game road swing, the Keydets will return home to Patchin Field Saturday morning. VMI hosts Winthrop University at 11:30 a.m. for Big South Conference play.
