LEXINGTON, Va. – Junior midfielder
Michael Kutsanzira (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe/Putnam Science Academy (Conn.)) capped off a thrilling game, scoring the winning goal for the 11th-ranked Washington and Lee men's soccer team in the 108th minute to push the team past Lynchburg, 2-1, on Saturday night.
With the game nearing its end, W&L (3-0-1) junior midfielder
Samuel Bass (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park) stole the ball at midfield and passed off to junior midfielder
John Peterson (Towson, Md./Loyola Blakefield) on the right side. Peterson brought the ball up field and found Kutsanzira at the top of the 18-yard box. Kutsanzira trapped the ball, took one touch to his right and fired on the right side and inside the left post for the game-winner.
W&L led by a 1-0 tally up until the 80th minute, when Lynchburg (2-1-1) centered a corner kick that was not cleared by the W&L defense. Hornets junior midfielder Carter Averette fought off a defender and equalized with his right foot.
The Generals took the initial lead in the game in the 32nd minute. Kutsanzira received a pass inside the 18 from first-year defender
PJ Ryan (Morristown, N.J./West Morris Mendham) and then sent a cross to the left post. Peterson was on the receiving end of the pass, as he dove and headed the ball inside the left post for the score.
The goals for Kutsanzira and Peterson were the first of the year for both players, while Kutsanzira led the game with seven total shots. The goal and assist marked Kutsanzira's first career game with one of each, while Peterson logged his fourth such performance.
Senior goalkeeper
Michael Nyc (Killdeer, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) (3-0-1) earned the win, as he played all 107:28 and made one save.
For the Hornets, Averette's goal came on one of his team-high two shots on the night. Sophomore forward Brennan Lagana also shot twice, and five other players each shot once. Graduate student Kyle Gallagher (2-1-1) took the loss in goal for Lynchburg after allowing two goals and making six saves.
The shot total favored W&L, 22-9, in the game, but the Generals held a 13-3 edge in shots after the first half. W&L also earned nine corner kicks to four for Lynchburg, including a 7-1 advantage after the first half.
The Generals will return to action on Friday when they travel to Hanover for a 4:00 pm contest.
