SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Senior Mary Beth Bleekrode converted a penalty kick goal to give the women's soccer team a 1-0 victory over Virginia Military Institute Friday evening at Snyder Field.
 
A handball in the box called on a VMI defender gave Wofford the penalty kick opportunity in the 74th minute. Bleekrode lined up the shot and hit a line drive that got past Keydet keeper Darien Dunham for the goal.
 
The goal was Bleekrode's third of the season and the 11th of her career. It was also the third game-winning goal of her career.
 
Weather conditions played a big factor in the game, as both teams played through consistent rain and windy conditions. The match's start time, originally scheduled for 6 pm, was moved up to 5 pm to try to get ahead of the incoming storms.
 
"I think the girls responded well to that," head coach Amy Kiah said after the match. "We had kind of been on our toes the last 24 hours hoping we could get the game in, and they were ready to compete."
 
The first half went scoreless, as both teams had scoring opportunities but could not put the ball past either keeper. Each team had three corner opportunities in the first half as well.
 
VMI (4-8-0, 0-3-0 SoCon) had two good chances to equalize in the last 10 minutes of the match. Midfielder Sam Boney had an open shot on goal in the 83rd minute that Terrier goalkeeper Mayson Liner was able to save, and Keydet forward Olivia Cotton followed up two minutes later with another shot on goal that Liner stopped.
 
Overall in the match, the Terriers (2-4-3, 1-1-1 SoCon) outshot the Keydets 15-7, but both teams took six corner kicks in the match.
 
"VMI is a great team," Coach Kiah said. "They battled for 90 minutes and the girls expected that. We came out knowing we'd have to have a good game to put this one away."
 
Liner was credited with her first collegiate victory in the match, playing all 90 minutes in net while recording four saves.
 
Dunham took the loss in net for the Keydets, also playing all 90 minutes of the match while notching eight saves.
 
Wofford is now 4-0 all-time against VMI, not allowing the Keydets to score in any of the four matches the teams have played. The win also secures the team at least a tie for fourth place in the Southern Conference standings.
 
The Terriers next play Sunday, as the team hosts SoCon-foe UNCG at Snyder Field. That match is set to start at 2 p.m.