Newport News, Va. -- The University of Lynchburg men's soccer team opened up the 2023 season with a 2-0 victory over Hardin-Simmons Friday afternoon. 

Freshman goalkeeper Thomas Viscuso earned a clean sheet in his first-career start and only his third-career match. His four saves preserved the 2-0 advantage that Luke Mega and Carter Averette created with a pair of goals. 

Manzi Shalita recorded Lynchburg's first shot on target 27 minutes into play. Two minutes later, the Hornets drew a foul inside the box, and head coach Chris Yeager sent Mega to the spot for the penalty kick. Mega buried the 11-meter shot for his 45th-career goal. 

The Cowboys tested Viscuso three times in the second half, but the sophomore denied all three chances. 

Averette iced the match in the 87th minute. Shalita sent a corner kick into the box, and Averette headed it into the back of the net for his 11th-career score. 

The 2-0 victory marks Lynchburg's first shutout in the month of September since 2019.

The Hornets (1-0) face off with the Captains of Christopher Newport on Saturday at 8 p.m. 

Visit Lynchburg athletics' home online, LynchburgSports.com, anytime for up-to-the-minute news on all Hornets sports and coverage from the Lynchburg Hornets Sports Network. Click here to sign up for email and text alerts from Lynchburg athletics.

Give Lynchburg Sports a like on Facebook, and follow Lynchburg athletics on Instagram and Twitter.

--LYN--