WINCHESTER, Va. - The Shenandoah University men's soccer ended their two game scoreless streak by picking up a non conference win against Methodist on Sunday afternoon. The Hornets (3-1-1) got a goal from
Carson Brooks off of a corner kick in the first half before
Chinedu Ikem buried a penalty kick in 47th minute to put the Hornets up 2-0. The Monarchs made the game interesting to cut the lead in half in the second, and after the game-tying goal was waved off due to offsides, the Hornets were able to run out the clock and secure the victory.
Nathan Lynch got the start for the Hornets and made one save in the contest while allowing the one goal.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a slow start for the Hornets as the Monarchs fired the shot of the game but it did not pose a threat as it was off target. After that, the Hornets went to work and started their domination possessing the ball and pressuring the defense.
Kyle Welch fired the first shot forcing the Monarch goalie to punch the ball over the bar for the first corner of the game. The ball stayed in the offensive third for the Hornets as another corner kick led to a great scoring chance, the ball found the head of
Jayden Dillard, but he did not get enough on it to beat the keeper. Continuing the pressure,
Jarbin Rodriguez and
Chinedu Ikem fired shots on goal but the score remained tied. Another corner kick opportunity in the 24
th minute also came up empty for Shenandoah, but it was the corner kick in the 26
th minute that
Kyle Welch sent a ball into the box where
Carson Brooks used his big frame and buried a header on the far post. The goal was the first for the Hornets in two games and Brooks' first goal as a member of the Hornets. Shenandoah took a 1-0 lead into the break.
The Hornets wasted little time in the second half to increase their lead as one of their first offensive possessions, Ikem raced past his defenders down the left side and was fouled in the box earning a penalty kick. The goalie guessed the wrong way and Ikem had an easy goal, his third of the season. Welch, fired another shot on goal that was saved, and after a Hornet penalty, the Monarch started to switch momentum. Methodist sent a long ball over the top of the defense and Steven Floyd of the Monarchs found himself on a breakaway with Lynch. Lynch came out to cut off the angle, but the ball got past him and the lead was cut in half. The game got intense as both teams were denied scoring opportunities late in the game. First, for the Hornets, a ball bounced around the box and found the foot of
Tarick Kamara who had a point-blank shot with the keeper falling to his left, stuck his right foot out to make a kick save keeping it a one-goal game. Then, the Monarchs fired a shot from the top of the box off the top crossbar, the ball bounced back to a Monarch who had a wide-open goal to head the ball into, however, the assistant referee raised the flag and waved off the goal. The Hornets were able to run out the clock and picked up their third win of the season.
The victory today not only snapped a two-game scoreless streak, but also ended a 10-match losing streak against Methodist. The last time the Hornets beat the Monarchs was October of 2003.
UP NEXT
The Hornets continue their home match slate as they welcome Stevenson to town Wednesday night. Last season, the Hornets and Mustangs battled to a zero-zero tie in Owings Mills.
#GoSUHornets
