HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. – The Hornets continued conference play as they hit the road for a match with Hampden-Sydney. The Hornets (6-4-1, 1-1) fell to the Tigers by a final score of 4-1.
Kyle Welch led the Hornets with five shots and picked up the lone goal for Shenandoah.
Chinedu Ikem and
Nathan Yared were the other two Hornets who each had multiple shots, each player had three. Hampden-Sydney had the edge on corners, earning two more than the Hornets 7-5, while the Hornets had the edge on shots 13-12. The big difference is that the Tigers had ten shots on goal, while the Hornets only managed four.
Gianncarlo Alderetes got the start in goal and was on the hook for the four Tigers' goals while making six saves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead scoring in the sixth minute. Shenandoah tried to get that goal back, as
Chinedu Ikem fired back-to-back shots that just sailed wide right. The Hornets kept the pressure up as
Kyle Welch fired a shot, causing the Tiger keeper to make the save, keeping it a 1-0 game in the 12
th minute. The shot gave the Hornets their first corner kick, but they could not capitalize. Going the other way, the Tigers earned their first corner of the game, forcing Alderetes to come up with the save. Off of the save, the ball went off Alderetes giving the Tigers another corner opportunity. This time, Hampden-Sydney connected and increased the lead to 2-0 in the 14
th minute. Trying to get back into the game, Ikem fired another shot, again wide right. After a Hornet foul, Alderetes was called upon to make another save keeping Shenandoah in striking distance.
Kyle Welch and
Nathan Yared each got shots off in the latter part of the half, but neither of those shots found the back of the net. Alderetes made three more saves in the half, as Shenandoah went into the break trailing 2-0.
After the break, the Hornets earned an early corner. Shenandoah did not convert on that corner, but Shenandoah drew a foul just outside the 18.
Kyle Welch looking to serve a ball into the box, fooled the keeper as the ball sailed over his head and the Hornets cut the lead in half. The goal was the third for Welch on the season. Off of the restart, Alderetes made another save, keeping the Hornets in the game. Gaining momentum, the Hornets had good looks, but the balls just sailed above the crossbar. In a turn of events, the Tigers added two more goals to seal the game for Hampden-Sydney.
Xavier Thompson had a good look for the Hornets, late in the game, but the Tigers' keeper made the final save and the Hornets fell 4-1.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will finally return home for the first time in five games, a place where Shenandoah has had much more success than on the road. They will continue conference play on Sunday as Randolph comes to town for a 4 pm kick-off.
#GoSUHornets
