LEXINGTON, Va. – Freshman Kyle Grant scored with just under four minutes left to play Tuesday night as the VMI men's soccer team defeated Radford University 1-0 on Drill Field #2 in the program's Corps Game. The victory is VMI's first over a Division I opponent since the 2014 season (1-0 at UNC Asheville on Sept. 5). 
 
"I'm honestly lost for words," said head coach Nick Regan. "With the amount of hard work these guys have put in and those that came before us the last nine years, this one is for everyone. It has been a long time coming and the feeling when Dylan Holbach held onto the ball at the end was unbelievable."
 
The Keydets and Regan – who is in his second year at the helm of the program - have been knocking on the door for this victory since last season, nearly earning a win in the season opener a year ago at St. Peter's (T, 2-2). In the 2022 season, VMI gave up just 11 goals in conference play - the fewest allowed in Southern Conference action since 1982.

 
"It was great to get the Corps here today, it felt like something was brewing all day and it was special," Regan said. "We ended the game with our three seniors on the field that have been with the program for four years and have seen some rough times. I am so proud of them." 

Adding another layer to the story is that of Dylan Holbach. A sophomore, Holbach began the season as a team manager, registering a shutout-win in his first ever career start.

"Dylan was absolutely superb all day," said Regan. "It is an unbelievable story."

How it happened:
*Grant took a long pass along the left wing, eluded the charging Highlander goalie, and fired a shot past a Radford defender at 86:01 for the game winner
*Radford had two attempts to tie in the closing minutes, including one in the final 10 seconds, but both shots were stopped by Holbach
*Freshman Jesse Lee nearly scored late in the first half but his shot hit the far post, one of several good Keydet chances in the first 45 minutes. Yeirin Mejia also had a shot sail just wide
*The Keydets also had a few good scoring opportunities after intermission before Grant cashed in, including shots from Conner Reid and Timofey Dovgalyuk


Inside the numbers:
*Grant's tally was the first goal of his VMI career
*The Keydets fired 16 shots, including seven on net. Dovgalyuk had a team-best three shots while Cole Mooney, Grant, Holcomb and Mejia each had two
*Holbach made eight saves in the first start of his Keydet career, being pressed into action with two of the program's goalies out due to injury
*Radford keeper Bryce Peacock made six stops

Next Time:
The Keydets are back on Drill Field #2 Saturday against Liberty University at 1 p.m.