GREENSBORO, N.C. – Nate Berning’s goal early in the first half propelled Lynchburg College as Guilford College dropped a Wednesday evening Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) contest to Lynchburg, 2-0. The Hornets are ranked 17th in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III Top-25 Poll.
Both sides dueled for the possession advantage in the first ten minutes of the period before Lynchburg’s Ben Grossfuss set up a centering pass from the right side to Berning for the game’s first goal in the 13th minute. Offense slowed for the rest of the period as each side tallied two shots after the 24th minute as total shots for both teams equaled the amount of corner kicks during that time period to close the half. The Quakers’ best chance at a goal came in the 25th minute as a Ricky Aguilar deflection went in on goal, past the goalie, but the Lynchburg defense stopped the shot at the left post to prevent the scoring chance.
Lynchburg claimed the first two shots of the second half as they held the possession advantage of the first 15 minutes. Guilford answered with a pair of corner-kick opportunities and a key offensive chance in the 65th minute where Christian Torres (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford) went one-on-one with goalie Dylan McLaurin, but McLaurin played up on the ball and secured the save at Torres’ feet. The Hornets regained the advantage and pressed the Quakers on multiple opportunities as the Quakers held off the Hornets all the way to the final minute. As Guilford goalie Eric Hayes (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) joined the Quakers’ rush on a set-piece in the final seconds, Lynchburg gained possession as Zach Thomas secured the breakaway goal and the victory.
Lynchburg out-shot the Quakers, 18-7, and held the edge on corner kicks, 9-4.
Hayes made four saves in net for the Quakers while McLaurin finished with two out of Lynchburg’s three saves.
The Quakers continue a stretch of four games in seven days Wednesday, traveling to Randolph College for a 7 p.m. ODAC contest.