WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Howard women's soccer team snapped its three-game skid with a 2-0 victory over Virginia Military Institute on Sunday afternoon at Greene Stadium. The Bison have a 3-3-1 overall record and the Keydets fall to 3-6-0.
Sophomore Mackenzie Diotte was credited with the win and split time in goal with junior Gabrielle Emilien. Diotte tallied four saves in her 34 minutes, while Emilien posted three rejections. VMI's Emily Marbury allowed both of the Bison's goals before leaving the game in the 78th minute.
The Bison took 17 shots, 10 of which came in the second half, while holding the Keydets to 11 attempts.
In the 16th minute, freshman Makela Davidson crossed the ball from the 10 yard line to a sprinting Anna Mitchell. Mitchell delivered a perfect strike into the lower left corner for her second goal of the season to put Howard on the board, 1-0.
Diotte made three saves to keep VMI from tying the game as the two teams headed into halftime.
The Bison spent the beginning of the second half on the defensive end but turned the tables quickly. After Marbury was given a yellow card, rookie Priscilla Ayala fired off a shot on a set piece that sailed high.
Junior Kela Gray swiftly followed up with a shot of her own shot but could not get past the keeper. Sophomore Jasmin Miller tallied back-to-back attempts for the Bison with one going wide and the other being saved by the Keydet's defense.
Howard added to its lead on a fast break as the Bison drew VMI's net-minder out of the goal. After stopping the rebound off the goalie's gloves, junior Noelle McCullom struck from 30 yards out, sending the ball into an empty net for the final 2-0 tally.
The Bison begin a six-game road trip and open Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action on Friday, Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. ET against Alcorn State.
