VMI men’s soccer was the sixth seed in the Southern Conference tournament, and outstanding performances from the Keydets earned multiple SoCon recognitions.—Photo courtesy VMI Athletics.
VMI men’s soccer saw success and set program records during the 2024 campaign.
Prior to the start of the season, VMI remodeled Patchin Field, adding new Bermuda grass and Old Barracks backdrops behind each goal. Additionally, the VMI Spider logo was painted at midfield, along with a pair of painted Southern Conference logos on each end of the pitch before games, adding a modern touch.
VMI went 5-11-2 on the year and was the sixth seed in the Southern Conference tournament. The Keydets had two weekly award winners, with Kyle Grant ’27 earning Offensive Player of the Week and Zack Murphy ’26 nabbing Defensive Player of the Week, tallying weekly honors in back-to-back weeks for the first time since 2001. Anthony Huang ’28 was named to the SoCon All-Freshman squad.
The Keydets continue to improve each season, earning five or more wins in back-to-back seasons since 2004–05. VMI recorded three straight results against an NCAA Division I program since 2010. The Keydets also posted a result against the same D-I opponent in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2013–14. VMI also conceded the fewest goals in a regular season since 1990.
After a shutout victory over Regent University, the Keydets became 4-0 at home for the first time since 1994 and the first time the Keydets have ever started a season 4-0 at home. At the time, VMI also recorded a result in four straight matches for the first time since 2007.
The Keydets had a historic victory over Mary Baldwin, scoring 10 goals and allowing none. Ten goals is the most scored in a single match in the Institute’s 45 seasons.
Keydet goalkeepers combined for four shutouts, the most in 17 years, and helped lead to the highest win percentage in 16 seasons.
By the end of the season, VMI was ranked 12th in saves per game with over five and 24th in shots per game with nearly 15 among all D-I schools. The Keydets ranked No. 1 in saves per game in the conference.
Individually, Murphy was key between the posts, ranking fifth in total saves with 85 and seventh in saves per game with five in the nation. Both stats were first in the SoCon. Cole Mooney ’25 ended up with the most shots in the conference with 41. Grant Martin led the way with six goals and 14 points—both in the top five in the league.
The VMI record book will get some updates, as well. Alexei Royar ’25, Mooney, and Drew Menges ’25 rank top three in program history in minutes played by a non-goalie. Mooney also moves up to fifth all-time in career games played with 70. Huang posted a team-leading six assists, the fifth most in a single season.
The Keydets honored 10 1st Class cadets during Senior Day and will return a plethora of young talent, including seven juniors and 10 sophomores.
