University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
1-10-1, 0-5-0
VMI
1-13-1, 0-5-0
Men’s soccer scores three unanswered to register draw at VMI
10.23.2021 | Men's Soccer
LEXINGTON, Va. – Falling behind 3-0 early on Saturday afternoon, the UNC Asheville men's soccer team rallied and scored three unanswered to force extra time, with a final score of 3-3.
VMI wasted no time getting on the board, registering all three of its goals in the first 13 minutes of play. Asheville responded with two right after, with Jake Kemhadjian setting up Nate Evans early in the second half, tying the game at 3-3. From there, the teams traded opportunities all the way through 110 minutes.
"The first 12 minutes was obviously not our best," said UNC Asheville head coach Mick Giordano. "The way we responded and finished the rest of the game was brave, exhilarating and worthy of the 3-0 comeback it ended up being. Proud of our guys for their efforts."
The Game at a Glance
- VMI nets three in first 13 minutes, Asheville responds with two in first half
- Evans scores two goals, Justin Fleer scores first goal of the season
- Asheville totals 29 shots, 15 on frame
How it Happened
It was not the ideal start for UNC Asheville, with VMI scoring just 48 seconds in. The Bulldogs earned a corner in the fourth, but just two minutes later Warner Collier made the score 2-0 in favor of the Keydets. VMI looked primed to run away with the game, adding a third in the 13th minute, but Asheville showed its resilience, as Justin Fleer scored off a corner in the 15th, and Nate Evans cut the lead to 3-2 just a minute later via a Bulldog counter-attack as the teams cooled off, taking that score into the break.
Asheville kept the momentum up in the second, as Kemhadjian found Evans for his second score of the match in the 48th to knot the game up at three goals apiece. The teams traded opportunities with Conor Behan firing a pair of shots on frame, but 90 minutes was not enough to settle the match.
Behan registered another scoring chance in the first extra time, but Broden Schull grabbed another save as the teams stayed tied 1-1. Evans was determined to record a third, registering three straight shots with two on frame but could not sneak it past Schull, as the teams ended in a 3-3 draw.
What's Next
The Bulldogs return to Greenwood Wednesday, hosting Furman for another non-conference match at 4 p.m.
Team Stats
Grant Martin (2)
Assisted By: Cole Mooney
GOAL by VMI Martin, Grant Assist by Mooney, Cole.
00:48
Warner Collier (1)
Assisted By: Grant Martin
GOAL by VMI Collier, Warner Assist by Martin, Grant.
05:27
Cole Mooney (1)
Assisted By: Woongchan Oh
Crossing pass
12:35
Justin Fleer (1)
Assisted By: Mason Cookus
Loose ball off post
14:11
Nate Evans (2)
Assisted By: Mason Cookus , Conor Behan
Off cross
14:52
Nate Evans (2)
Assisted By: Jake Kemhadjian
GOAL by UNCA Evans, Nate Assist by Kemhadjian, Jake.
47:55
