WINCHESTER, Va. - The Shenandoah University men's soccer team took a major step in its post-season tournament hopes Saturday afternoon with a 4-0 USA South Conference victory over N.C. Wesleyan.

SU (4-4-2 overall, 3-2 USA South) exploded for three goals in the first half to surprise the previously unbeaten in the league Battling Bishops (6-7-2, 4-1-1).

Now with two conference games left (versus Methodist and Averett), the Hornets will likely need only one win to qualify for the conference tournament for the third straight season.

Shenandoah took the early lead when freshman Robert Eilbert (Oakton, Va./Oakton) netted the first goal of his collegiate career in the eighth minute and then struck again two minutes later on an unassisted tally by sophomore Mihailo Prelavic (Podgorica, Montenegro/Olympic Heights). 

SU made it 3-0 when Prelavic found the back of the net with one minute left before halftime. This was one of 12 shots that the hosts peppered N.C. Wesleyan goaltender George Frangos (Nashville, N.C.) with in the final 35 minutes of the half.

Eilbert closed out the scoring 12 minutes after the break with his second goal of the afternoon.

Goalkeeper Kyle Hodges (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) made 14 saves for his second shutout of the season and Frangos amassed 14 stops in the losing effort.

A complete boxscore can be found at: http://www.su.edu/athletics/msoc/2003/101103.htm

Shenandoah returns to the field on Tuesday when the men travel to Randolph-Macon for a 4:00 start.