VMI women’s soccer tops Delaware State for best start in program history

Topping Delaware State in its second home game of the week, the VMI women’s soccer team achieved its best start in program history by moving to 3-0 on the season as the Keydets defeated the Hornets, 4-0, Thursday afternoon at Patchin Field.

VMI has previously earned 2-0 starts in its inaugural 2003 season, in 2007 and 2016, but fell in the third game of those respective campaigns. Thursday’s win ensured VMI’s 3-0 perfect start to the season to set a new program standard.

“This is the hardest Division I experience in the country,” said VMI head coach Chris Bergmann. “This start to the season shows the dedication that these players have to the program. They stayed focused on the game plan and maintained a battle mentality the whole game. We kept fighting and scoring opportunities continued to open up for us in the second half.”

Junior Sierra Brewer scored the game-winning goal in the 10th minute of the match by taking a cross from Whitney Edwards-Roberson and heading the ball into the lower right corner of the net for the early advantage.

The Keydets were relentless on the offensive end, taking 28 shots to five for the Hornets and 12 shots on goal to two for Delaware State. Unsatisfied finishing the game with a 1-0 victory, VMI went on a scoring rampage in the final four minutes to score three goals in a minute and 13 seconds. Kiley Cropper registered a goal at the 86:05 mark for a 2-0 VMI lead. Moments later, a VMI cross was deflected off the Hornets’ Samantha Bahr and into the DSU net with three minutes left in the game for an own goal.

Not giving up, junior Sam Franklin scored her first goal of the season with an unassisted strike from 25 yards out, kicking the ball above the goalie’s hands as it deflected off the crossbar and bounced into the net.

Senior goalie played a complete 90 minutes for the Keydets, logging two saves in her second victory of the year. Delaware State’s Leslie Fazio earned eight saves in the loss.

The Keydets return to action next Thursday at Radford with a 7 p.m. kick in Radford, Virginia.