Women’s soccer: VMI Keydets hold off IUPUI in dramatic fashion, 1-0

Kristen Whitehurst’s 38th-minute goal was enough, as the VMI Keydets downed the IUPUI Jaguars in exciting fashion, 1-0, in non-conference women’s soccer action Sunday at VMI’s Patchin Field.

After a back and forth first half, a long ball into the box was headed forward by VMI’s Amy Horney. Whitehurst received the ball toward the right side of the box and headed it past IUPUI (3-2-1) goalkeeper Catherine Schmidt for her second score of the season and the lone goal of the match. With the score, Whitehurst became the fifth player in Keydet history to have at least four game-winning goals in a career.

The match was evenly played throughout, with the Jaguars holding a 16-15 edge in shots. The Keydets, however, put seven of their tries on goal compared to just three for the visitors. IUPUI held a 6-3 edge in corner kicks, and Schmidt made six saves for the Jaguars. Marbury made one save and Keppeler was credited with a pair.

The Keydets (3-2) nearly got on the board in the second minute. Schmidt stopped an Emma Quirk shot and a Juliet Esnardo try on the rebound was cleared by a defender, keeping the match scoreless.

Neither team seriously threatened again until the 28th minute, when a shot by Maryna Clark was loose in the box. The ball sat free near the goal line for several seconds before Marbury was able to deflect it to another Keydet, who cleared it away and kept the match scoreless. That enabled Whitehurst’s goal some 10 minutes later to give VMI the 1-0 lead.

The second half featured more back and forth action, with the visitors having two key chances to tie the match. In the 72nd minute, Denise Veldman’s shot from 12 yards out clanged off the lower portion of the crossbar and bounced away, keeping the Keydets in front.

VMI had possession in the final minute, still up 1-0, but IUPUI was able to muster one final charge. A cross directly across the middle of the box led to a sliding, desperation try by Alyssa Fox in the final 10 seconds. Fox’s try, however, was high and the Keydets held on for the dramatic win.

In a statistical oddity, all five of VMI’s 2016 matches have now ended with one team recording a shutout.

VMI women’s soccer will return to action Friday, when the Keydets play host to former Big South opponent Campbell. Opening kick is set for 4 p.m.