Lexington, Va. – Gabriela Vatrano and Alexandra Grammenopoulos both netted second half goals on Thursday afternoon as Western Carolina women's soccer earned a critical Southern Conference road victory, downing the VMI Keydets 2-0 on Patchin Field.
Vatrano netted the game-winning goal in the 52nd minute, redirecting a cross from Darien Vita past the VMI keeper, with Grammenopoulos following with the insurance marker on her first career collegiate score in the 57th to lift the Catamounts to the road win.
Caroline Simpkins opened the afternoon with the first shot attempt of the day in the third minute, though a Keydet defender deflected the attack. WCU's first four shot attempts were each off target. VMI recorded the first shot on goal in the match in the 25th minute, with Amara Yetka collecting her first save off a Madelyn Todorovich offering.
The scoreless first half saw a combined seven shots, six of which came from the Catamounts. The WCU backline limited the Keydet offensive production throughout much of the opening 45 minutes, holding VMI to only one shot on target.
WCU continued to put pressure on the Keydets and goalkeeper Maren Ryberg, opening the second half with four shots in the first four minutes with two on frame. Vatrano broke through the Keydet defense in the 52nd minute, scoring her fifth goal of the season and the eventual game-winner on the touch from Vita.
Pressing for more, Vita nearly recorded her first collegiate goal in the 53rd minute, but an offsides call waved the score away as the Catamounts held onto their 1-0 lead.
Four minutes later, though, WCU capitalized on great execution off a corner kick in the 57th minute. Samantha Whitaker played the ball low to Vatrano, who dealt it back to Whitaker, who then lined a pass to Grammenopoulos in front of the net. The Canadian product fired a shot high, ricocheting the ball off the crossbar and down into the net as the Catamounts pulled ahead with 2-0 lead.
The Catamounts had an opportunity for a third goal in the 77th minute, as Simpkins was brought down in the box by Cameron Jones, who was issued a yellow card. The Catamounts sent Samantha Vibberts to take the penalty, with her initial shot just deflected by a diving Ryberg. The ball rebounded to Vibberts, who took a second shot, but another outstanding diving effort by Ryberg kept the match a two-goal affair.
In total, the Catamounts outshot the Keydets 18-6 overall and 10-3 in shots on goal. The Keydets posted eight saves, with WCU collecting three as the Catamounts fired five corner kicks to VMI's three.
Catamount Notables:
- WCU remains undefeated against VMI, leading the all-time series 14-0.
- The last four meetings in the series have been shutout victories for the Catamounts.
- The Catamounts have recorded back-to-back games with 15+ shots for the first time this season … WCU has also recorded back-to-back double-digit shot-on-goal matches for the first time this season.
- Three of WCU's four victories this year have been shutouts.
- Gabriela Vatrano recorded her team-leading fifth goal of the campaign and her second game-winning goal of the year.
- Darien Vita recorded her second-career assist on Vatrano's game-winning goal.
- Alexandra Grammenopoulos netted her first career goal in the 2-0 win.
- Samantha Whitaker notched her third assist of the season on Grammenopoulos' marker in the 57th minute, tying her season-high in helpers from a year ago.
- Goalkeeper Amara Yetka went the distance for WCU, recording two saves in her second shutout effort of the season.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
Western Carolina returns home to host the Mercer Bears for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday, Oct. 23, as part of the Homecoming 2026 festivities. With three matches remaining in the 2026 regular season schedule and nine points still up for grabs for WCU in the SoCon standings, each match is paramount for postseason seeding.
The Catamounts then close out the 2026 home season by hosting the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, before concluding the regular season on the road on Sunday, Nov. 1, visiting chromatic rival Furman in a 2 p.m. kickoff in Greenville, S.C.
