Lynchburg, Va. -- The 24th-ranked University of Lynchburg men's soccer team erased a one-goal halftime deficit with three in the second 45 minutes en route to a 3-1 win over Randolph College Wednesday night in Old Dominion Athletic Conference action.
Zach Whelan, Brennan Lagana, and Benjamin Velasquez all scored second-half goals to help the Hornets complete the come-from-behind win.
The Hornets found themselves in threatening positions early on with three shots on goal in the first 15 minutes, but then the visitors took command of the half. Randolph out-shot its host by an 11-3 margin in the opening half and finally broke through in the 44th minute. Amidst a scrum in the box, the WildCats' Ethan Meyer chased down a loose ball and scored from close range to send Randolph into the break with a 1-0 lead.
Lynchburg quickly changed the tune of the match when play resumed. The Hornets earned a pair of quick corners to start the half, and on the second, Lagana's ball found Whelan at the back post, and the junior midfielder headed in the equalizing goal in the 47th minute.
Only 8 seconds later, Manzi Shalita regained possession at midfield and played a through-ball to Lagana, who beat the defense into the box and scored the go-ahead goal.
The Hornets added insurance later in the half thanks to Velasquez. Shortly after another well-delivered corner in the 62nd minute, the freshman center back tracked down a failed clearance in the box and delivered the ball into the goal with a nifty right-footed bicycle kick.
Lynchburg kept the pressure on for the remainder of the match but could not break through again, though it didn't matter; the Hornet defense allowed just two Randolph shots in the final 40 minutes of the match to seal the victory.
It was the Hornets' ninth consecutive win over their crosstown rivals, and the victory moved Lynchburg into first place in the ODAC standings, two points ahead of No. 12 Washington and Lee, which played Virginia Wesleyan to a scoreless draw Wednesday in Lexington.
Lynchburg (8-0-5, 4-0-1 ODAC) will look to keep that lead in the standings with another tough test Saturday night at 7 when rival Roanoke College pays a visit to Shellenberger Field.
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