After nearly a two-hour weather delay, the Keydets opened up their 2011 campaign Mon., August 28 at NC State’s Dail Soccer Field, falling to the NC State Wolfpack by a 2-0 score. Senior Jacob MacIntyre had three shots for VMI with one coming on goal. While junior Taylor Feuerstein stopped six shots in his collegiate debut.
The Wolfpack (1-0-1) controlled the first 15 minutes of the contest, outshooting the Keydets 3-1 in the early going. NC State was rewarded for their efforts at the 15:48 mark, as Ollie Kelly took a feed from Nazmi Albadawi from 25-yards out. Kelly beat a defender off the give-and-go, and sent a bender into the lower-left portion of the net past VMI’s junior goalkeeper Taylor Feuerstein to give NC State the early 1-0 advantage.
VMI (0-1) earned its first serious chance in the 24th-minute, as junior Ayao Sossou was taken down 30-yards out. However, sophomore Aaron White took the ensuing free-kick which was hit into the wall of Wolfpack defenders.
On the ensuing Wolfpack foul, another foul of Sossou resulted in a free-kick from junior Kip Zechman. The long-distance specialist served a volley in from 40-yards out that skimmed off the head of senior Jacob MacIntyre. The MacIntyre header grazed off the right pipe, preserving the Wolfpack lead at 1-0 with 16 minutes left in the opening half of action, which proved to be the lone Keydet shot on goal for the match.
Despite several other Wolfpack opportunities in the final moments of the half, the Keydet defense stood tall, keeping the deficit at 1-0 heading into the half. In all, the Wolfpack held a 9-3 shot advantage, and utilized six corner-kicks to VMI’s one to generate a majority of their offensive pressure.
NC State nearly added to the advantage 15 minutes into the second stanza, as an NC State corner resulted in a point-blank shot inside the six, off the foot of Simon Cox. An outstanding stop by Feuerstein, who stood tall on his line, was a big part in holding the deficit at 1-0 with 28 minutes of action to go.
The Wolfpack’s consistent pressure on corners paid off with 21 minutes to play and on their ninth corner of the night. After not being able to send home the first try, Cox headed home a service from the right flank past Feuerstein to extend the NC State advantage to the eventual final of 2-0.
NC State goalkeeper Fabian Otte stopped one shot in goal for the win, and did not face a shot in the second half. Overall, the Wolfpack had a 19-4 shot advantage to go along with 10-2 advantage on corners.
VMI opens up its 2011 home slate on Fri., Sept. 2 as the Keydets will entertain the Army Black Knights for the first time in program history. Kickoff from Patchin Field is slated for 5 p.m., and live stats will be available via VMIKeydets.com.
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