STAUNTON, Va. – The Shenandoah University men's soccer kicked off their 2024 campaign in dominant fashion. The Hornets (1-0) easily handled Mary Baldwin University (0-1) with a 7-0 win over Mary Baldwin University Friday afternoon. Shenandoah had a pair of braces in the opening contest with
Jarbin Rodriguez getting the game's first goal of the contest. A minute later
Chinedu Ikem got his first goal of the season, picking up where he left off after the 2023 season. Rodriguez gave the Hornets a comfortable 3-0 lead heading into the break. At the start of the second half, Ikem secured his second goal of the game on an assist from Rodriguez. For good measure, Shenandoah added goals in the second half from
Nathan Yared, Nick Mattice, and
Sali Diaw. The Hornets dominated possession out shooting the Fighting Squirrels 24-1 and taking the edge on corner kicks 12-1.
Nathan Lynch got the start in goal going the first 68 minutes of the game before giving way to first-year keeper
Talan Josaitis. Neither keeper recorded a save as the only shot from Mary Baldwin was off target.
How it Happened
It was all Hornets from the jump as
Nathan Yared wasted little time firing the first shot of the season in the fifth minute of play. The Hornets took three consecutive corner kicks before finally cashing in the 15
th minute.
Kyle Welch took a long ball pass from
Alex Stetz and beat his defender going down the left side of the field. Welch then fired a cross through the box as
Jarbin Rodriguez was waiting to head the ball in for his first goal of the season. A 1-0 lead was not enough as a minute later
Chinedu Ikem netted his first of the season. Seven minutes later in the 23
rd minute, after another Hornets' corner kick, Rodriguez picked up his second of the game as Shenandoah took the 3-0 lead into the break.
From the start in the second half, the Hornets continued to pressure the Fighting Squirrels keeper, who made back-to-back saves on Rodriguez and Yared before Ikem scored his second of the game in the 49
th minute. In the 55
th minute,
Nathan Yared the program's only three-time All-ODAC recipient got in on the scoring action netting his first of the season. Last year, Yared had 11 tallies on the season to lead the Hornets. As the Hornets continued to pressure the defense,
Nick Mattiace scored his first collegiate goal on an assist from
Jayden Dillard in the 63
rd minute.
Sali Diaw added the final blow to wrap up the game in the 70
th minute on off an assist from
Connor Robles.
UP NEXT:
It's a quick turnover for the Hornets as they will be in action back in action Saturday afternoon as they make their home debut with a 3 pm kick-off. The McDaniel Green Terror comes to town for a non-conference match.
#GoSUHornets
