Two goals in each half accounted for the final margin, as the Samford Bulldogs defeated the VMI Keydets, 4-0, in SoCon women’s soccer action Sunday at VMI’s Patchin Field.
With the loss, VMI (7-11, 4-5 SoCon) finished the regular season as the conference’s #8 seed and will play host to #9 The Citadel at Patchin Field Wednesday at 3 p.m, in the opening round of the SoCon Championship. Samford’s win clinches a regular season league title and the Bulldogs will host the winner of VMI/Citadel on Oct. 29 in the conference quarterfinals.
On this beautiful fall day, Samford jumped ahead in just the third minute. Emily Jones crossed the ball into the box from 18 yards out and Kaitlyn Orman headed it home for her first goal of the year, and a 1-0 Samford lead. Just over 10 minutes later, Jermaine Seoposenwe tacked on her 14th goal of the season to make it 2-0.
VMI’s best scoring chance came in the 40th minute, when SU goalkeeper Anna Maddox came well off her line to try to play a loose ball. The ball trickled free, however, and Juliet Esnardo lobbed a shot over Maddox’s head toward the wide-open net. A Bulldog defender was able to retreat for the team save, however, and keep the match at 2-0.
Samford (12-3-2, 8-1) then got goals from substitutes Sara Smeltzer and Korrie Sauder in the final 10 minutes of the game to wrap up the scoring.
Emily Marbury finished the game with 11 saves for VMI in her first start in over a month, while Maddox was credited with four stops for the visitors. All told, Samford finished with a 27-6 edge in shots and 7-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Seniors Lizzy Cotter, Kristen Whitehurst and Marbury were honored in an on-field ceremony prior to Sunday’s game.
Once again, VMI women’s soccer will return to action Wednesday, when the Keydets host #9 The Citadel in the first round of the 2016 Southern Conference Women’s Soccer Championship. Opening kick is set for 3 p.m.
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