Lynchburg, Va. -- Kenny Robles scored in the 90th minute to erase a late deficit, leading University of Lynchburg's men's soccer team to a 2-2 draw with No. 5-ranked Messiah in Saturday afternoon's season-opener on Shellenberger Field.
Lynchburg jumped out to a lead in the very early going, earning a corner kick in the third minute. Kenny Robles delivered a strike to the back post off the corner right to Zach Whelan's head, and the junior converted for a Hornet lead.
It didn't last long. Messiah's Cole Cristian scored in the eighth minute to even the tally.
The Hornets kept the pressure on for the remainder of the first half, earning four more corner kicks and out-shooting the nation's fifth-ranked team by a 7-4 margin in the opening 45 minutes, but neither team was able to break the tie.
Messiah controlled much of the second half but to no avail until the 88th minute. Following a Hornet goal kick, the Falcons' Jake Kent-Loop won the ball at midfield and delivered a long ball over the Lynchburg defense that Matt McDonald tracked down and put in the net for a goal that seemingly won Messiah the match.
But Lynchburg wasn't done. The Hornets pushed the ball upfield and drew a foul near the midfield line. Goalkeeper Justin Ennis hit the ensuing free kick into the box, where it popped around in the air for Enrique Morales to head toward goal. Morales' shot was blocked, but Kenny Robles tracked down the carom in the left side of the box and finished for the equalizer with just 53 seconds left in regulation.
Lynchburg (0-0-1) will polish off its season-opening weekend at home Sunday with a 3 p.m. match against Pfeiffer.
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