LEXINGTON, Va. -- The Virginia Military Institute men's soccer team hosted Wofford College for Senior Day, where the program honored four seniors prior to the Southern Conference tilt. But the visiting team stole a 3-0 win at Patchin Field Wednesday afternoon in the league contest.
Wofford, which began the day in second in the league standings, got goals from three different players as Nestor Jaramillo and Carlos Dominguez-Gonzalez scored in the first half while Josh Schooler scored in the final minute of the match. All three goals were assisted as Jaramillo, Will Puckett and Robin Hupin were all credited with helpers.
Prior to the match, head coach Richie Rose and the squad honored four seniors, Brandon Hartman, Blake McCauley, Taylor Rafaly and Ricky Siewers, as well as their families.
The Keydets (1-15-1, 0-9-0 SoCon) saw the return of Zach Kaplan to the net as he made eight saves in his first action since Oct. 4. His opposite, Joe Wichmann, made four saves for the clean sheet.
Wofford (10-5-1, 6-2-1 SoCon) out-shot VMI 22-11, taking 13 shots in the second half. The teams were nearly even in the first half in the shot column, with Wofford taking nine and the Keydets with seven. Wofford put five of those attempts on goal in the opening stanza.
VMI, which played its final game of the year at Patchin Field, gained nine corner kicks while the Terriers were afforded eight, including six in the second half. The visitors committed 13 fouls while VMI was called for 12. VMI played with just 10 men over the final 33 minutes as Alex Hartman was booked with a pair of yellow cards. Teammate Andrew Hicks was also hit with a yellow in the 80th minute.
The Terriers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute as Puckett sent in a pass to Jaramillo that set the latter up for a one-on-one chance with Kaplan. Wofford tacked on an insurance goal in the 29th minute as Dominguez-Gonzalez buried a chance on a long cross to the back post from Jaramillo. Schooler finished the scoring with just 13 seconds on the clock as Hupin sailed in a long corner kick, finding Schooler's forehead.
But VMI was not without opportunity as McCauley got a great chance in the box in the 35th minute as he put a header opportunity goal-ward, forcing Wichmann to make a leaping save he pushed over the crossbar.
The Keydets hit the road one last time in the regular season as VMI heads to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for a second time this season. VMI and the Spartans clash at 7:30 p.m. at UNCG Soccer Stadium Saturday, home of the 2014 Southern Conference Men's Soccer Championship.
