LEXINGTON, Va. – Despite being in control of the ball for most of the game, the American University women's soccer team was unable to break through as VMI converted on a penalty kick to win, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon.
 
QUICK NOTABLES

• American had a series of chances to tie the game over the final 10 minutes of the contest, but the Eagles were unable to convert.
• The Keydets recorded just two shots on goal, but VMI's penalty chance proved to be the decisive goal.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Junior Phoebe Merrigan provided the first real opportunity of the game for the Eagles in the 6th minute, a shot from outside the box that sailed just over the crossbar.
• VMI had a promising counter-attack in the 34th minute, but sophomore defender Lauren Sanders ran the attacker down to make a key defensive stop.
• After a late challenge from VMI on junior Avery Klingensmith, Klingensmith attempted a shot from a dangerous free kick position, but it was saved by VMI in the 43rd minute.
• A dangerous cross in the 56th minute from graduate student Izzy Kadzban yielded chances for senior Jennifer McGuire and sophomore Lailah Stewart, but Stewart's shot was saved.
• In the 59th minute, a challenge from senior Amélie Kovacevic yielded a penalty kick for VMI, which the Keydets converted to take a 1-0 lead.
• In the 70th minute, VMI broke away with another chance, but pressure applied by freshman goalkeeper Addison Roemer forced a mistake from the Keydets and a goal kick for American.
• A free kick from midfield led to a header chance for sophomore Bella Miller in the 81st minute, but her shot bounced off the post for a VMI goal kick.
• American had another great chance in the 84th minute as a header from Klingensmith was saved.
• Senior Olivia Simmons provided one last chance for the Eagles in the final seconds, but her shot sailed wide, as the Eagles fell, 1-0.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The game was scoreless at halftime, but American out-shot VMI 7-2 during the first 45 minutes.
• American's shot advantage carried into the second half, as the Eagles ended the game with an 18-5 differential in shots.
• Despite the 18 shots from the Eagles, only four of them were on target.
• American had six corner kicks in the game, with many of them yielding promising chances for the Eagles.

UP NEXT

• The Eagles will make the short trip to College Park on Thursday, August 22, for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff against Maryland.

FOLLOW US

• For the latest on American University Women's Soccer, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_WSoccer) and Instagram (@au.wsoccer).