WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University men's soccer dropped their regular season finale to #24 University of Lynchburg 2-1 on Wednesday night. Shenandoah (10-6-3, 5-3-2) got the lone from
Chinedu Ikem in the 85
th minute, but the Hornets could not get the equalizer and fell to Lynchburg. Two first-half goals from Lynchburg, one in the 32
nd minute and then a penalty kick in the 43
rd minute, was the game's difference, as Shenandoah held Lynchburg scoreless for the final 47 minutes of play. Shenandoah had the edge in shots 11-10, but Lynchburg had more shots on goal 5-4. Shenandoah had one more corner 8-7, while both goalies made three saves.
Chinedu Ikem,
Nathan Yared,
Leandro Sainz and
Niclas Vavra all had two shots for the Hornets, while
Nathan Lynch got the start in goal, making three saves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams were feeling each other out as no one had any opportunities until Lynchburg had the first scoring chance of the game in the 10
th minute, but Lynch came up with the save. In the 14
th minute, Lynchburg pressured again, but again, Lynch was up to the task and kept the visitors off the scoreboard. Shenandoah earned their first corner of the game in the 15
th minute, which prompted a shot from
Jayden Dillard, but it was off-target and sailed wide. Lynch was called into action in the 31
st minute, making his third stop of the half, but Lynchburg was awarded another corner. Off the corner, the ball was served into the box and glanced off Keaton Napior, and Lynchburg took a 1-0 lead. Shenandoah had two shots from Sainz and one from
Chris Chaplin, but neither were on target. In the 43 minute, a handball was called in the box against Shenandoah and Lynchburg converted on the penalty kick to take a 2-0 lead right before the break.
In the second half, Lynchburg had a good scoring chance to take a 3-0 lead, as a long ball was played up top, Kohlby Wilson used his speed and dribbled around Lynch, who came off his line, but his shot went wide as
Carson Brooks went sliding to guard the back post. Shenandoah picked up the pressure, needing to score to try and tie the game. Off of a foul just outside the box,
Jarbin Rodriguez flicked the ball to
Nathan Yared, who got past his defender, but he could not get the angle on the shot, and his header went wide. Off of another set piece in the 80
th minute,
Niclas Vavra's header did not fool the Lynchburg keeper, as the score remained 2-0. With Shenandoah increasing the pressure, the Hornets earned back-to-back corner kicks in the 82
nd minute. On the first corner kick, Vavra had the goalie beat, but a defender came in sliding at the last second to deny his shot on the near post. After another corner kick, the ball bounced off Lynchburg for a throw-in deep in the Hornets' territory.
Gabe Eckenrode threw the ball into the box, where Vavra headed it to Yared, Yared flicked it on to
Chinedu Ikem, who took a touch, turned, and fired a shot in the upper 90, cutting the lead in half.
Jarbin Rodriguez had the last chance for Shenandoah as he blasted a shot, but the Lynchburg keeper made the save and the game ended 2-1 in favor of the visiting Hornets.
UP NEXT
This was the final regular season game. Shenandoah will head into the ODAC Tournament where they are the 6
th seed and will take on the 3
rd seeded Marlins from Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday.
#GoSUHornets
