LYNCHBURG, Va. --- The Lynchburg Men's Soccer squad defeated John Carroll, 4-2, in the First Round of the NCAA Men's Soccer tournament Saturday afternoon on Shellenberger Field.

Lynchburg brought the pressure early when they forced a corner kick just one minute and 58 seconds into the game. The pressure continued during the 36^th minute when Ashby took another corner but this time Lynchburg would convert it into a goal when the ball found sophomore defender Clay Van Gieson, who gave the Hornets a 1-0 advantage.

Three minutes later senior Ben Grossfuss sent a laser that sailed a bit to high over a leaping Blue Streaks goalkeeper. John Carroll got their first threatening attack at the the 31^st  minute mark when a Lynchburg player collided with the sophomore goalkeeper Dylan McLaurin on the free kick as the ball was loose just outside the 6-yd box. Van Geison jumped in front of a shot to make a crucial save and preserve the Lynchburg lead.

The Blue Streaks would score with just 11 minutes left in the half sophomore Chad Kanakkanatt struck a shot at the top of the box and put it upper right to even the game heading into halftime.

The Hornets dove right into the second half at full steam as junior Fredy Flores sent a through pass that found the tip of Grossfuss's cleat sending the ball directly up in the net to put Lynchburg back up, just three minutes into the half.

Flores would find himself on the other side of the ball during the 52nd minute when sophomore Austin Kues got his head on a throw in ball which was directed towards Flores who headed it into the goal to put the Hornets up 3-1. Senior Adam Reynolds extended the Lynchburg lead during the 75^th minure when Kues forced a turnover at midfield which set up the give and go pass from junior Ryan Mayolo to Reynolds for the goal.

John Carroll would add a goal in the final minutes of play but it was not enough as the Hornets closed out the victory 4-2. McLaurin made five saves on the day including a couple of important crossing pass deflections. John Carroll outshot the Hornets 18-14 but Lynchburg created more opportunities with corner kicks as they held a 6-3 edge.

The Hornets will play the Lords of Kenyon College on Shellenberger Field in tomorrow's NCAA second round game which is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. Kenyon defeated Maryville (TN) score in their first round game.