GREENVILLE, S.C. -- A Paladin goal in the 63rd minute doomed the sixth-seeded Virginia Military Institute men's soccer team Saturday night as third-seeded Furman University claimed a 1-0 win in the first round of the Southern Conference Men's Soccer Championship tournament.
Kyle McLagan scored on a header towards VMI's back post on a ball sent in by Tony Santibanez on a free kick just outside the Keydet penalty area.
The lone goal was in spite of four saves from VMI (1-17-1) keeper Alex Guerra, aided by a solid defensive effort from his backline, which allowed Furman 20 shots, but only five were on frame.
Furman (10-5-3) advances to the SoCon Men's Soccer Championship semifinals and will face Wofford College on Nov. 13 at UNCG Soccer Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.
“I believe the team fought gallantly tonight,” said head coach Richie Rose. “I was certainly proud of everyone's work ethic against a quality opponent we have been competitive with in all three meetings with Furman this year. We wish them all the best in the next round of the conference tournament.”
The Keydets and Paladins played twice during the regular season and once in the league tournament, marking the first time in VMI's history that it has played an opponent three times in a single season. Furman won 1-0 in Lexington on Oct. 4 and 3-1 in Greenville on Oct. 18 in the regular season.
The Paladins took 20 shots, led by six from the foot of Bobby Edet, but the game's leading shooter could not find the woodwork. McLagan and Eli Pinner were the only players in the game to take multiple shots with two attempts each. VMI took five chances, with redshirt freshman Chris Spates taking the lone shot on goal.
Fouls were aplenty in the contest as VMI was whistled for 27 while Furman was called 16 times. The two teams came together towards the end of the contest but only two cards were issued. VMI's Andrew Hicks was issued two yellow cards and will miss the season opener in 2015.
Furman paced much of the action in the first half, out-shooting the Keydets 12-0 in the first 45 minutes. But Guerra backstopped VMI well, making two saves while also breaking up Furman's three corner chances.
The Keydets had a chance early in the first half as Andrew Starnes through in a long ball to Hunter Morgan in the Paladin six-yard box, but Morgan looked to cross to a teammate and the chance went wide and off the field.
VMI's defense was solid in the box, marking the Paladins on each attempt, forcing 10 Furman shots off frame, including several over the crossbar.Furman had a chance from 23-yard out midway through the first half but McLagan pushed the chance left of the goal mouth.
The Keydets were whistled for eight fouls in the opening stanza while the Paladins were called seven times. Furman was caught offsides twice, including once in the sixth minute that results in a goal being called back.
The season finale saw the final game for three Keydet seniors, Brandon Hartman, Blake McCauley and Taylor Rafaly, as the trio is set to graduate from the Institute on May 16, 2015.
“The end of the season is always emotional,” said Rose. “Our thoughts are full of shoulda, woulda, coulda. But now it's over and we're very disappointed in our record and I truly believe that the results have hidden many good performances. With that said, we will need to change many things to try and be more competitive in the Southern Conference. We're sad to see our seniors leave but for them it's just the beginning of a new chapter and the end of another. We wish them all the best and thank them for their commitment to VMI soccer and the Institute.”
VMI will announce its team awards following the annual banquet next weekend.
