Box Score Lexington, Va. -- After 85 scoreless minutes, Izaack Cruz buried the game-deciding goal from the top of the box and allowed the University of Lynchburg men's soccer team to earn a 1-0 victory over Washington and Lee in the opening contest of the season on Tuesday night at Watt Field.

The No. 14 Hornets (1-0) worked possession in the middle of the field with less than five minutes on the clock. The rock found the feet of Matthew Viscuso on the left wing before working across the top of the box. Saul Lopez Coreas laid it off to Cruz just inside the area, who then powered a left-footed shot across the goal frame to net the lone goal of the outing. Lynchburg held Washington and Lee without a goal over the remaining 4:04 to secure the road win.

The Lynchburg men's soccer squad finished with a 12-to-nine advantage in total shots and recorded six attempts in each half. Matthew Viscuso led Lynchburg with four shots and placed one on goal. Jefferson Lopez Coreas took two shots, while Cruz scored on his only attempt. Angel Romero recorded Lynchburg's other shot on goal. Isaac Torres, Noah Coughlin, Bruno Rihl Silva and Chris Wiley each added one shot.

Lynchburg goalkeeper Vikram Couto played all 90 minutes and made five saves to record the shutout in his debut in a Hornets' kit. Couto stopped two shots during the first half and three more after halftime. Washington and Lee goalkeeper Miles Furman made two saves.

The match remained scoreless through the opening 45 minutes despite Lynchburg holding a narrow six-to-five edge in shots. The Hornets did not place a first-half attempt on target, while Couto saved both of the Generals' shots on goal. Lynchburg registered three shots on target in the second half, including Cruz's decisive attempt.

Lynchburg held 56 percent of the possession, compared with 44 percent for Washington and Lee. The Hornets earned three corner kicks, including two in the second half, while the Generals recorded four. Lynchburg committed 12 fouls and Washington and Lee was called for 13.

Tonight's matchup goes down as a nonconference affair for both sides. The two groups will meet again later in the season on Saturday, October 17 at 2 p.m., which will count towards the teams' conference records. Next up for the Hornets is a trip to the Lone Star State for a pair of outings, first against Texas Lutheran in Seguin, Texas on Friday, September 4 at 7:30 p.m.

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