LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Men's Soccer travels to Villanova and Higgins Soccer Complex on Tuesday for its final non-league showdown.
The Keydets (2-9-3, 0-3-0), who look for its first road win of the season, challenge a red hot Wildcats group (4-4-5, 1-1-3), who have locked down three-straight results.
Keys to the Keydets
Keydets Topped by Paladins. It was two late goals that proved costly for VMI in a 3-0 loss to nationally-recognized Furman.
Man of the Match. This weekend's Seasons Bakery & Cafe Man of the Match was
Zack Murphy, who tallied eight saves against the Paladins, the most saves by a SoCon goalie in a league match this season.
On the Bright Side. VMI has conceded the fewest goals in its first three league matches since 2022. This is also the third-straight season the Keydets have allowed less than 30 goals through their first 14 games.
No Days Off. Four Keydets have played in all 14 matches this season:
Thimson Duolo,
Jack Yough,
Timofey Dovgalyuk, and
Jordan Savage. Dovgalyuk is the only Keydet to have started in all matches. Duolo, Yough, and Dovgalyuk each have collected over 1,000 minutes played.
Racking Minutes. Zack Murphy has played 1,125 goalie minutes this year, ranking 66th nationally, which brings his career total to 4,182, which ranks third all-time at VMI.
Household Name. Making his mark in his first collegiate season is
Thimson Duolo, who leads the Keydets with three goals, while boasting two assists.
200 Piece. Goalkeeper
Zack Murphy recorded his 200th save against UNCG, making his 209 career saves the fifth-most in program history.
Shot Taker. Thimson Duolo ranks in the top 10 in the SoCon with 23 shots and 12 shots on goal.
Top 50. VMI ranks 33rd nationally with 4.5 saves per game.
Leading the League. VMI leads the SoCon with 63 saves and 4.5 saves per game.
Dishing It Out. Jesse Lee has tallied a team-leading three assists this season, along with a second-best five points.
Young Stat Leaders. All three goal leaders for VMI are freshmen:
Rowen Choi,
Jack Yough, and
Thimson Duolo. Duolo and Choi are also two of the top three in total points. Joining the young squad with the second-most assists on the team is
Sam Dowdy. Yough has played 1,160 minutes on the back line, the most for VMI this season.
Life Saver. Zack Murphy ranks 16th among D-I goalies with 57 saves, the best in the league, and 36th with over four saves per game, the second-most in the conference.
Scouting the Wildcats
- Villanova is 4-4-5 overall with a 1-1-3 Big East record.
- The Wildcats have earned a result in three-straight matches, picking up back-to-back draws against Big East rivals, Seton Hall and Creighton, and a win over NJIT.
- Villanova is 3-1-4 when playing at home, earning a result in four-straight home matches.
- The Wildcats are 3-3-2 against non-league opponents with three shutouts.
- Villanova is undefeated when scoring at least one goal.
The Wildcats are 98th in RPI.
- This is Villanova's first time playing a SoCon school in program history.
- The Wildcats rank in the top 50 nationally with over four saves per game, which is the second most in the Big East.
- Sam Nyenka leads the team with three goals and six points, while Michael teDuits boasts a team-leading three assists.
- Alex Yagudayev leads the team with 32 saves and three shutouts.
- Head Coach Mark Fetrow is in his second season at the helm. Fetrow was an associate head coach at Villanova for four seasons before being hired as a head coach at Drexel for one season.
Series History
- This will be the first meeting between the two programs.
For more information, visit VMIKeydets.com or follow us on social media at VMI Athletics.
