VMI Women’s Soccer Show Fight in 4-2 Loss to Samford

Looking for a strong performance against one of the league’s top teams, the VMI women’s soccer team showed fight in a 4-2 loss at Samford at the Yelton Track and Soccer Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, Oct. 10, 2025.

Despite going down by a 2-0 score early in the first period, the Keydets responded with goals by Rachel Baez ’28 and Mackenzie Hobik ’29 to knot the score at 2-2 midway through to go into the break all tied up.

The VMI goals mark the first time since the 2018 season the Keydets have scored against the Bulldogs, as VMI last found the back of the net in a 2-1 loss to the Bulldogs at home 7 years ago.

With the loss, VMI falls to 1-13-1, 0-6-0, while the Bulldogs improve to 7-2-5, 4-0-2 in conference play.

Game Summary

Samford’s Samantha De Luca got the Bulldogs on the board early with two quick goals in the first 17 minutes as she struck the net in the sixth (5:07) and 17th minutes (16:45) off assists from Sarah Holland and Mamie Carman.

Undeterred, the Keydets fought back midway through with two consecutive goals within minutes of each other. Baez scored her first career goal at VMI in the 26th minute (25:14) off an assist from Gianna De Cicco ’27. Moments later, Hobik scored an unassisted goal from outside the box in the 28th minute (27:35) to knot the score at 2-2.

Mamie Carman scored the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute (52:11) of the second half before De Luca earned a hat trick with her third goal of the match coming in the 65th minute (64:27) to seal the win for the Bulldogs.

Key Stats

• The Keydets were effective in their shot selections by scoring twice on just five shot attempts during the contest.
• The Bulldogs took 33 shots at the VMI net with 15 on frame.
• Maren Ryberg ’29, VMI keeper, stayed busy with 11 saves on the day, while Samford’s Peyton Hull countered with two saves.
• Baez and Hobik finished the game with two shots apiece, while De Cicco took one.
• De Luca totaled eight shot attempts throughout the match for Samford.