VMI women’s soccer draws with Delaware State

Killian Buckley scored in the 64th minute to give the VMI Keydets the lead, but the Delaware State Hornets answered with less than seven minutes left in regulation and the two teams finished in a 1-1 tie in non-conference women’s soccer action Thursday night in Dover, Del. The match was the final non-conference match for VMI this season, and in fact, was the final match out of conference play for any of the 10 Southern Conference programs.

After the two teams had combined for just eight shots through the first 63-plus minutes, VMI (2-8-1) earned a throw-in in the 64th minute. Allie Segura launched the toss that ended up some 10 yards from the goal. Nicole Blixt then popped the ball into the air and Buckley headed it home for a 1-0 VMI lead. It was Buckley’s first goal of the season, while Blixt and Segura were each credited with an assist on the play.

DSU (3-8-1) countered in the 84th minute. After a Keydet foul, Julia Bossert earned a free kick 30 yards out. Bossert scored on the play to tie the match, 1-1 after her first goal of the season. There would be just one more shot on goal, a DSU try in the second overtime that Emily Marbury made the match’s only save on.

The home team had the best chance in the opening period, as after early pressure, Emma Cain clanged a 12th-minute shot off the post. That was one of just four total shots in the first 45 minutes, with the lone Keydet try being an Emma Quirk shot that went wide in the 42nd minute.

VMI came out strong in the second half, notching the first two shots of the period, but DSU nearly went up in the 58th minute. Danielle Valente drilled a shot off the crossbar, keeping the match scoreless.

The Keydets finally broke through on Buckley’s 64th minute score, and held the Hornets to just two shots until Bossert knotted the score at 83:23. There were only four shots combined in the two overtime periods as the defensive struggle wound up in a tie.

The Hornets finished the match with an 11-7 edge in shots and a 4-2 edge in corners, while VMI’s Marbury was credited with the only save of the night. DSU keeper Katelyn Koslosky did not make a save.

VMI women’s soccer will return to action Sunday, when the Keydets play host to the Spartans of UNCG at Patchin Field. Action gets underway at 1 p.m.