BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Alex Frank put the VMI Keydets ahead to stay in the 17th minute, and Sydnie Bligh and Olivia Cotton added goals later in the match as the VMI Keydets defeated the UNC Asheville Bulldogs, 3-1, in non-conference women's soccer action Friday in Boiling Springs, N.C. It was the first match of a weekend round-robin tournament, hosted by Gardner-Webb.

Frank got the Keydets (2-4) on the board at the 16:11 mark, when Blake Cashin put a corner kick into the box. A Keniya Lee shot was saved, but off an ensuing cross, the ball was deflected outside to Frank. She put it past Asheville (4-2) keeper Madeline Getz for her first career goal and a lead the Keydets would not surrender.

Bligh added on less than three minutes later, and after an Asheville goal in the 31st minute, Cotton provided insurance at 68:06 to account for the final margin.

After the Keydets jumped ahead courtesy of Frank, the next serious threat doubled their lead. Cashin put a shot in that was deflected by Getz, but the loose ball caromed to Bligh for an open shot and a goal. Bligh's fifth goal of the year made it 2-0, Keydets.

Asheville cut the margin in half in the 31st minute on an Emma Houser goal, and that was the score at halftime. Cotton, however, put the game out of reach midway through the second half. Kayla Blake played a cross to the true freshman, who headed the ball into the right corner for a 3-1 Keydet lead that would account for the final margin.

For the match, Asheville finished with a 22-9 edge in shots, but held just an 8-7 advantage in tries on goal. VMI had all four of the day's corner kicks. Darien Dunham had seven saves for the Keydets, while Getz posted three saves for the Bulldogs.

VMI women's soccer will return to action Sunday, when the Keydets take on the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs at 3 p.m.