Maryville, Tenn. -- With a goal in each half and strong defensive play from start to finish, the University of Lynchburg men's soccer team secured a 2-0 victory in its first game of the season against Maryville College on Friday night at the MC Soccer Complex.

The Hornets performed confidently from the opening whistle, notching their first goal of the 2025 season in under 10 minutes of action. Controlling possession from the backline, Benjamin Velasquez sent a ball down the left sideline, finding Isaac Torres with room to run on the offensive end. Torres pushed up-field before cutting inside close to the top of the box. He then found an open Evan Pask at the top of the 18-yard box, who settled and delivered a strike past the keeper.

Lynchburg commanded possession for much of the contest, out-shooting Maryville by a margin of 16-2, including 12 shots in the second half. The Scots fired just one shot on goal throughout the entire 90 minutes of play, proving that the Hornets' stout defensive unit picked up right where they left off in 2024. 

In the 64th minute, Pask made a stellar effort to dribble past his defender near the top of the box. Moving into the area with a chance on goal, the Scots defender slid to make a play on the ball and took out the legs of Pask, setting up a penalty shot for the Hornets. Ayden Cass capitalized on the penalty kick and gave Lynchburg a comfortable two-goal advantage that held for the remainder of the outing.

Along with increasing their opening-day undefeated streak to seven games, the Hornets evened the all-time series with the Scots to five wins apiece and earned their first clean sheet of the season. Lynchburg will look to continue its winning ways when it finishes its weekend swing in the south against Berry College on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 12 p.m. at the MC Soccer Complex.

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