VMI women’s soccer blasted by Samford, 5-0

The Samford Bulldogs scored three goals in an 8:11 span early in the second half to break open a close match, and went on to a 5-0 win over the VMI Keydets in Southern Conference women’s soccer action Friday at VMI’s Patchin Field. Jermaine Seoposenwe had three assists, while Amanda Abbott and Katie Danehy added two goals apiece for the visitors.

After Samford (8-6, 3-1 SoCon) took a 2-0 lead into halftime, the Bulldogs struck 2:31 into the second half. Seoposenwe played a corner to Brittany Hoffman, who promptly nailed a cross into the box that was headed home by Danehy, who scored easily for a 3-0 Samford lead. Abbott added a 50th minute tally and Danehy capped the scoring at 53:11, beating Emily Marbury after two blocked shots, to account for the final margin of 5-0.

In its win, Samford held a 33-5 edge in shots and an 11-3 advantage in corner kicks. Marbury made nine saves for VMI (2-10-1, 1-3 SoCon), while Anna Maddox was credited with one for the Bulldogs.

Samford jumped ahead early on the cool, wet day, as Patchin Field had seen heavy rain earlier in the day and was extremely soft and mud-laden. Seoposenwe played a corner into the box, almost directly at Marbury, who bobbled the ball and lost the handle in the wet conditions. Abbott promptly stepped in and kicked it home for a 1-0 Samford lead just 6:51 into the match.

The Bulldogs continued to press, but VMI held off the visitors for the majority of the rest of the half. That effort included six Marbury saves, and the Keydets nearly countered in to the 30th minute. Nicole Blixt got off a shot, but it was stopped by Maddox rather easily for the save.

Samford had two near-misses late in the half. In the 32nd minute, Emma Quirk made a sliding team save at the last possible moment to keep out a Danehy try, and in the 41st minute, a certain goal was called back on an offsides penalty. The match then went to halftime with SU leading, 2-0.

Danehy’s first goal of the match made it 3-0 in the 48th minute, and Abbott added on in the 50th. Seoposenwe played a cross into the box to the near corner, where Abbott elevated and put it home for her second goal of the match and a 4-0 lead for the visitors.

Danehy then capped the scoring in the 54th minute, putting home a rebound after two blocked shots to notch her second score of the match.

VMI women’s soccer will return to action Sunday, as the Keydets play host to the Chattanooga Mocs at Patchin Field. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.