ATLANTA – The No. 11 Washington and Lee men's soccer team defeated Oglethorpe by a 1-0 score on Saturday night on the second day of the Sonny Carter Invitational at Emory University.
 
W&L (1-0-1) struck in the 18th minute when sophomore midfielder Michael Kutsanzira (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe/Putnam Science Academy (Conn.)) fired a shot from the center of the 18-yard box, and had it blocked by a defender. The deflection bounced back to junior midfielder Samuel Bass (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park), who navigated to his left, and fired a left-footed shot past the keeper and inside the right post for the game's only tally.
 
Despite no goals scored in the second half, W&L kept the pressure on for the remainder of the game, and even had a goal called back in the 82nd minute due to an offsides. The shot totals favored the Generals in the second half, 5-3.
 
Bass's goal came on his only shot of the night, and it was his first goal of the season. Kutsanzira led the team with a game-high three shots, while first-year forward Sandor Franch (Tallinn, Estonia/Tallinn European School) shot twice and put one attempt on goal. Senior goalkeeper Michael Nyc (Kildeer, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) (1-0-1) earned the win and made seven saves to record his 23rd career shutout, extending his own program record.
 
The Stormy Petrels (0-1) were led on offense by junior forward James Williams and junior defender Stephen Summerow, who both shot twice and put each of their attempts on goal. Junior goalkeeper George Inzunza (0-1) took the loss for Oglethorpe after allowing one goal and making three saves.
 
W&L held a 14-8 advantage in the contest in total shots, but Oglethorpe edged the Generals in shots on goal, 7-4. The Generals earned eight corner kicks on the night, four in each half, and conceded five.
 
W&L will return to the pitch on Friday when it hosts N.C. Wesleyan at 4:00 pm in the 2021 home opener.