VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Shenandoah University men's soccer team saw their season come to an end with a tough 3-0 loss to #3-seeded Virginia Wesleyan University in the ODAC Quarterfinals. Despite a strong season and a tenacious effort, the Hornets (10-7-3, 5-3-2 ODAC) couldn't overcome the Marlins on their home turf.
Virginia Wesleyan struck first, netting a goal late in the first half to carry a 1-0 advantage into halftime. They extended their lead with two additional goals in the second half, effectively sealing the match. The Marlins outshot Shenandoah 15-11 and held a 7-5 edge in shots on goal, while corners were nearly even, with Virginia Wesleyan holding a slight 5-4 advantage. Gabe Eckenrode led the Hornets offensively with three shots, while Aidan Browne, Jarbin Rodriguez, Nathan Yared, and Chinedu Ikem each added two shots apiece. In goal, Nathan Lynch made four saves, keeping Shenandoah within reach throughout the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
From the opening whistle, Shenandoah showed intensity and determination, eager to control the game's tempo. The Hornets created their first chance within minutes, drawing a foul just outside the Marlins' box. Off the free kick, Aidan Browne sent a powerful shot toward the goal, only for it to be blocked by Virginia Wesleyan's defense. Not backing down, Shenandoah kept pressing and won another opportunity after forcing a turnover deep in the Marlins' defensive third. Chinedu Ikem quickly capitalized, firing a shot that narrowly missed the post. Despite this early pressure, Virginia Wesleyan's defense proved resilient, consistently cutting off Shenandoah's advances.
Midway through the half, the Marlins began to assert themselves, turning the momentum in their favor. In the 36th minute, they finally broke through on a well-executed corner. The ball was served into the box and found a Marlin player near the far post, who headed it past Shenandoah goalkeeper Nathan Lynch, making it 1-0. With only a few minutes left in the half, Virginia Wesleyan applied even more pressure, earning another shot just before halftime. Although it missed the mark, the Hornets entered the break trailing by a goal, knowing they'd need to ramp up their offensive play in the second half to keep their season alive.
Shenandoah opened the second half with renewed intensity, determined to find an equalizer. Early in the half, Nathan Yared linked up with Jarbin Rodriguez, who unleashed a powerful strike that skimmed just past the right post, showing the Hornets' intent. Moments later, a hard foul on the edge of the box granted Shenandoah another promising free kick. Kyle Welch and Rodriguez lined up, but the Marlins' defensive wall held firm, blocking the shot.
As Shenandoah pressed forward, Virginia Wesleyan capitalized on a defensive misstep in the 58th minute. A scramble in the box led to a shot on goal; Lynch made a remarkable initial save, but the rebound fell right at the feet of a Marlins attacker, who slotted it home to double their lead to 2-0.
The Hornets didn't relent, pushing high and looking to break down the Marlins' defense. Another chance came in the 65th minute, when Welch made a surging run down the left wing and delivered a perfect cross into the box. Yared met the cross with a header, but the Marlins' goalkeeper made a diving save to deny him. Despite Shenandoah's efforts, Virginia Wesleyan's defense remained steadfast, blocking shots and intercepting passes as the Hornets tried to claw their way back into the match.
In the final ten minutes, Shenandoah threw players forward in a last-ditch effort to score, leaving gaps in their defense. The Marlins took advantage of one such gap, launching a swift counterattack that resulted in their third goal of the day. A turnover in midfield allowed Virginia Wesleyan to break free, and after a deflected shot, they found the back of the net once again to secure their 3-0 victory.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
The Hornets finish their season with a 10-7-3 record and a 5-3-2 mark in ODAC play. Senior forward Nathan Yared led the team and the conference with 13 goals, while Chinedu Ikem contributed 10 goals of his own. Kyle Welch topped the assist chart, delivering 10 assists, also leading the conference. Despite the quarterfinal loss, Shenandoah's impressive season included strong performances and notable offensive output.
UP NEXT
With the season wrapped up, Shenandoah looks forward to building on this year's progress and returning even stronger next season.
#GoSUHornets
