LYNCHBURG, Va. – Three first-half goals proved to be the difference as the Washington and Lee men's soccer team defeated Lynchburg, 3-2, to close an undefeated regular season on Saturday.
 
The Generals' (6-0-1, 5-0-1 ODAC) first goal came in the 15th minute, when a corner kick opportunity for the Hornets (5-3-1, 5-2-1 ODAC) was cleared by the W&L defense. First-year forward Adrian Zimmerman (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) chased down the ball up the field and fought off a defender for possession as he approached the box. Zimmerman cut back to his left to create space and shot past the keeper for the score.
 
Less than three minutes later, sophomore defender Charley Colby (Prairie Village, Kan./Shawnee Mission East) took a long throw-in down field. Zimmerman saved the ball before it crossed the endline with a bicycle kick, which he centered in the box to senior midfielder Harris Salom (Blacksburg, Va./Blacksburg). With plenty of space, Salom volleyed the ball into the net for his third goal of the season.
 
Sophomore defender Tyler Smith (Alexandria, Va./St. Stephens & Agnes School) scored the team's third goal in the 37th minute when he knocked the ball in from close range following a free kick taken by Colby.
 
Lynchburg first-year midfielder Manzi Shalita scored in the 41st minute to get the Hornets back within two goals, before sophomore forward Luke Mega pulled the game to 3-2 in the 80th minute. After Mega's goal, the W&L defense did not surrender a single shot to secure the win.
 
Zimmerman led the way for the Generals' offense, finishing the contest with six total shots and three on goal. Salom shot three times and put two attempts on goal, while Smith's goal was his only shot of the day. Junior goalkeeper Michael Nyc (Kildeer, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) (5-0-1) earned the win in net, as he made three saves in 90 minutes of play.
 
Shalita and Mega both shot four times to lead the Lynchburg offense, and they both put two shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper Kyle Gallagher (5-3-1) took the loss, but made eight saves in 90 minutes of action.
 
Shots were even in the second half at 7-7, but the Generals held the overall game advantage, 20-12. W&L also earned five corner kicks in the game, four in the first half, and conceded just one.
 
With a final regular season record of 6-0-1 and a 5-0-1 mark in conference play, the Generals qualify for the ODAC Championship Tournament. The Generals will play in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, with opponent and game time yet to be determined.