CHARLESTON, S.C. - Mady Riegel and Lea Raedle both scored their third goals of the season, but it was a tally by VMI's Lauren Wandzel with seven minutes remaining that gave the Keydets a 3-2 win over The Citadel in the Southern Conference opener for both teams.

The game was the first between the military rivals since 2007 and gave VMI a 3-2 lead in the all-time series. The Keydets rejoined the SoCon from the Big South in July.

Raedle brought the Bulldogs (4-7 overall) into a 2-2 tie in the 75th minute when her hard shot from 20 yards out hit the far right side of the net. Ana Mesa assisted on the goal, the seventh of her career, which places her third in school history behind only teammates Vanessa Aponte and Raedle.

The game stayed tied for a little more than eight minutes when Wandzel had a shot blocked but was able to secure the rebound and put it in to put the Keydets (2-8) in front. The Citadel kept the pressure on in the waning minutes but was unable to even the match.

The Bulldogs held a 22-10 advantage in shots, including 10 shots and eight on goal by Raedle, and took 10 corner kicks to only four for the Keydets. Emily Marbury made 10 saves for VMI, while Naomi Carter had four stops for The Citadel.

The teams traded goals in the first half, with Riegel finding the net on a long shot from well outside the box in the ninth minute. VMI tied it five minutes later on a goal by Emma Quirk.

The Keydets wasted little time after intermission in taking their first lead of the game on a goal by Nicole Blixt just 1:45 into the period. Aponte was not able to convert a penalty kick in the 59th minute, and a shot by Raedle that was heading into an empty goal two minutes later was turned aside by the Keydet defense.

The Bulldogs complete a four-game homestand on Sunday at 2 p.m. when they host UNCG at WLI Field.