VMI, WCU advance to SoCon quarters with OT wins

Southern Conference Women’s Soccer Championship first round

No. 8 VMI 1, No. 9 The Citadel 0 (OT)

LEXINGTON, Va. – A golden goal by true freshman Katelyn Lauziere in the 92nd minute gave the eighth-seeded VMI Keydets a thrilling 1-0, overtime win over the ninth-seeded Bulldogs of The Citadel in the opening match of the 2016 SoCon Women's Soccer Championship, contested Wednesday afternoon in Lexington, Va.

After the teams had played through the first 90 minutes scoreless, a long kick by VMI goalkeeper Ceci Keppeler led to a quick break for Taylor Callahan and Lauziere. Callahan headed the ball across the box to Lauziere, who lofted a shot from the top right of the box, about 10 yards out. It arched over the head of Citadel goalkeeper Logan Leask into the upper left corner of the net for the game-winner and Lauziere's third score of the season.

With the win, VMI (8-11) advances to play top-seeded Samford on Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama, at 7 p.m. Eastern. Samford is the three-time defending regular-season champion.

The Citadel's season ends at 5-13.

VMI attempted nine total shots in the first half, five of which were stopped easily by Leask. The Citadel keeper was up to the task and her team nearly broke through in the 47th minute. A blast by Mady Riegel from 15 yards out drilled the bottom of the crossbar, bounced straight down and then away from the goal.

The match remained scoreless, but again, the Bulldogs nearly took the lead 21 minutes later. Another shot by Riegel was the cause, but Keppeler made a sliding save to knock the try away and keep it 0-0. VMI then grabbed the victory early in the extra period. 

The victory was VMI's first postseason win since defeating Winthrop on Nov. 6, 2008, and just the program's second such win ever. The Keydets had advanced twice in conference tournament action in the years since, but had done so via penalty-kick shootouts on both occasions, including last season. Such advancements are officially recorded as ties.

In addition, Lauziere's goal was the first postseason overtime goal in VMI women's soccer history, and Callahan's assist was also a program postseason overtime first. The eight wins VMI has now posted on the year are the second-most in program history, trailing only the 10-win 2008 team.

For the match, VMI finished with a 17-14 edge in shots and 8-3 edge in shots on goal. Leask was credited with six saves to three for Keppeler, while VMI had seven of the match's 10 corner kicks.

 

No. 7 Western Carolina 2, No. 10 Wofford 1 (2OT)

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Seventh-seeded Western Carolina’s Emma Haywood scored with 44 seconds left in double overtime to lift the Catamounts to a 2-1 win over No. 10 seed Wofford in the first round of the Southern Conference Women’s Soccer Championship at the Catamount Athletic Complex on Wednesday.

The Catamounts (8-11-0) advance to face No. 2 seed ETSU in the quarterfinals on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Wofford sees its season end at 2-16-1.

The first half was evenly played, as Western Carolina got on the board in the 24th minute on Sayres McKenna’s seventh goal of the season. However, the Terriers responded less than 10 minutes later, when Catie Slater’s shot from distance found the top right corner of the net to tie the score heading into halftime.

For Slater, it was her second goal of the season. Terrier goalkeeper Alex King was also strong in the opening period, as she recorded five saves.

The Terriers continued their strong defense in the second half, keeping the Catamounts off the board with help from King, who made multiple diving saves in the period.

It looked like the game was headed for penalty kicks, but Haywood was able to head in a long throw by Sheridan Caudle in the final minute of overtime number two to give the Catamounts the victory.

Western Carolina outshot the Terriers, 18-7. However, King was up to the task, delivering a career-high nine saves in the contest. Her counterpart, Catamount keeper Carly Tinstman, was forced into just one save.

First round (at higher seeds)
Match 1: No. 8 VMI 1, No. 9 The Citadel 0 (OT)
Match 2: No. 7 Western Carolina 2, No. 10 Wofford 1 (2OT)

Oct. 29 (Saturday)
Quarterfinal round (at higher seeds)
Match 3: No. 8 VMI at No. 1 Samford, 7 p.m.
Match 4: No. 5 UNCG at No. 4 Furman, 2 p.m.
Match 5: No. 7 Western Carolina at No. 2 ETSU, 7 p.m.

Oct. 30 (Sunday)
Quarterfinal round (at higher seeds)
Match 6: No. 6 Chattanooga at No. 3 Mercer, 4 p.m.

Nov. 4 (Friday)
Semifinals (Summers-Taylor Stadium; Johnson City, Tenn.)
Match 7: Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4, 5 p.m. (SoCon Digital Network)
Match 8: Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6, 7:30 p.m. (SoCon Digital Network)

Nov. 6 (Sunday)
Final (Summers-Taylor Stadium; Johnson City, Tenn.)
Match 9: Winner Match 7 vs. Winner Match 8, 1 p.m. (ESPN3)

All times Eastern.