LEXINGTON, Va. ? Presbyterian College and the Virginia Military Institute battled to a 1-1 tie in men's soccer action on Sunday afternoon.
PC is now 3-10-2 on the 2007 season, while the Keydets end the match 5-7-3 on the year.
In the first ever meeting between the two teams, the Blue Hose came out strong in the first half and struck 13 shots to just two for the Keydets. Their offensive persistence paid off in the 38th minute of play when senior John Odum (Aiken, S.C.) headed home a corner kick from teammate Davis Orders (Greenville, S.C.) to give the Blue Hose the 1-0 lead.
In the second period the VMI offense was able to get things going and create scoring chances. The Keydets outshot the Blue Hose by a 9-8 margin in the half, and evened the score in the 60th minute when Wythe Horbal hit a volley off a well-placed long ball from freshman Chris Curtis.
Horbal stuck the shot in the top-left corner past PC goalie Mark Owens (Charleston, S.C.) for his fourth of the season.
PC came out and controlled the first overtime session with four shots and a pair of corner kicks, but couldn't produce a goal. The two teams each took two shots in the final overtime period, but both were once again unable to come away with the game-winner.
For the game, the Blue Hose outshot the Keydets 27-13 and held a 14-8 advantage in corner kicks.
Owens collected six saves in the game, while VMI freshman goalie Brian Sowell finished the day with seven saves.
The Blue Hose return home for their third and final home game of the season at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3.
PC will next return to the pitch for a game against USC Upstate at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3.
The match will be the final home game of the season for the Blue Hose and it will be Senior Night as they will honor their nine seniors.
The match will also be the celebration of 30 Years of Blue Hose soccer as many soccer alumni will be on hand for the game.
Members of the first PC soccer team (1977) team will also be on hand. The inaugural Blue Hose men's soccer team will also be honored at halftime of the PC Football game with Chowan at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3.
