Women’s soccer: VMI downs The Citadel, 2-0

Amy Horney and Katelyn Lauziere scored just 35 seconds apart in the second half, leading the VMI Keydets past The Citadel Bulldogs, 2-0, in SoCon women’s soccer action Sunday in Charleston, S.C.

The game was scoreless into the 63rd minute, but Horney scored on a header off a Taylor Callahan corner kick to give VMI (6-10, 3-4 SoCon) the lead for good. Just 35 seconds later, Lauziere notched her second goal of the season off a pass from Sierra Brewer to account for the final margin.

The goals 35 seconds apart were 18 ticks shy of the VMI program for fastest consecutive goals, set in 2005 against West Virginia Tech.

Neither team had a shot on goal for the first 18:34 of action on a 73-degree day in Charleston, but Leask and Keppeler made two saves apiece over the next four minutes as the offenses awoke. The Bulldogs also forced three Keppeler saves over the final seven-plus minutes of the half, but the VMI keeper was up to the task in preserving the 0-0 tie into halftime.

“We stepped up in the second half today, and I’m very proud of how we finished the game,” said VMI head coach Chris Bergmann. “We made sure to take care of the ball in transition in the second half, and made a concerted effort to take more shots. That – combined with good defensive pressure – was key to the turnaround we made.”

The VMI defense did not allow a shot on goal over the final 31-plus minutes of action, and Horney and Lauziere took advantage to help VMI defeat The Citadel in a regular season game for the third consecutive season.

For the game, The Citadel (4-11, 1-7) held a 12-11 edge in shots, but six saves from Ceci Keppeler helped preserve the clean sheet. Citadel keeper Logan Leask stopped five VMI attempts.

The shutout was VMI’s sixth of the year, tying a school record set twice previously, and the Keydets now have three conference wins in a season for the first time since 2009, when they posted five.

VMI women’s soccer returns home to wrap up the regular season with back to back games at Patchin Field. VMI begins the weekend by hosting Chattanooga at 4 p.m. Friday before also taking on Samford at 2 p.m. Sunday.