Lynchburg, Va. -- With a come-from-behind win and strong defensive second-half stand, the University of Lynchburg men's soccer team defeated Christopher Newport, 2-1, in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday afternoon at Shellenberger Field.
The No. 4 Hornets (19-1-2) stay dancing onto the round of 16 in NCAA postseason play with today's win, marking the furtherest advancement in the NCAA tournament since 2010 when the squad made it to the national championship game. With 19 wins, this squad takes sole position of second place in the record books for the most wins in a single season. Additionally, Lynchburg has tallied 66 total goals on the year, which is far and above the most goals scored in a season, breaking the previous record of 57 set in 2009.
The Hornets generated 11 shots in the match, including seven after halftime, while limiting the Captains to just one second-half attempt. Christopher Newport got on the board first in the 19th minute on an own goal following a scrum in the center of the box set up by a CNU corner kick that put Lynchburg behind early despite solid defensive pressure.
Lynchburg responded with poise, growing into the match and finding the equalizer in the 34th minute.
Keaton Napior collected his fifth goal of the season, finishing a sequence set up by
Benjamin Velasquez and
Kohlby Wilson as Lynchburg seized momentum before the break. Velasquez heaved a ball on a throw-in to the head of Wilson, who nodded it toward Mitchell to knot the score at one apiece.
The Hornets continued to push forward out of halftime, earning a corner inside the first six minutes and forcing a save moments later. Their pressure paid off in the 60th minute when Velasquez converted a penalty kick to give Lynchburg a 2-1 advantage. The goal marked his second of the season and capped a decisive stretch in which the Hornets outshot the Captains 7-1 over the final 45 minutes.
Lynchburg's defensive unit proved steady throughout the half.
Thomas Viscuso recorded two saves in the match. The Hornets managed the remaining time well, controlling possession, creating late chances from
Evan Pask and
Bruno Rihl Silva, and navigating a physical final stretch that featured multiple fouls and cautions on both sides.
The home squad closed out the match without conceding another shot on goal after the 68th minute, securing the result with disciplined play across the field. The Hornets now look ahead to this coming weekend for the third round of the NCAA tournament, where they will face Dickinson on Saturday, Nov. 22. Location and time for the match is to-be-determined. Last season, Dickinson knocked Lynchburg out of the NCAA postseason in the second round with a 2-0 final score.
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