LYNCHBURG, Va. --- Lynchburg rallied in the second half to defeat Roanoke, 3-1 in the ODAC Men's Soccer Championship Saturday evening. The win give the Hornets a 16-2-2 mark and an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament. The loss dropped the Maroons to 12-6-4 on the season.

This is the 12^th ODAC Championship in LC history and the second under head coach Chris Yeager. It is the fifth time that the Hornets have had to come-from-behind in the second half to earn a win this season.

The game was a tightly contested match pitting two teams with a combined 19 ODAC Championships. Lynchburg opened up strong and had several scoring opportunities, but Roanoke goal keeper Ryan Russell (Danville, VA, GW Danville)made several nice saves to keep the Hornets at bay.

Roanoke would eventually draw the opening goal in the 24^th minute as Chris Collins (Vinton, VA, William Byrd)made a run off a long pass down the middle and lofted the ball over the keeper into the left post. The game would change in the backfield for the Maroons as team captain and All-American defender Michael Stark (Newport News, VA, Menchville)was injured midway through the first half and would not return. Each team played exceptional defense to thwart a few good scoring opportunities to send the game into the half with the Maroons up 1-0.

The Hornets came out strong yet again to open the half, and it paid off for Lynchburg just 1:27 into the second stanza. A Roanoke foul allowed Josh Reedto take a free kick from about 20 yards out. Pat Brownredirected it to defender Zach Wardwho tallied his first career goal as he put the ball into the left side of the net to tie the contest at 1-1.

A Cam Smithfree kick led to a Ward header that was inches away from crossing the goal line, but Roanoke's Matt Standley (Richmond, VA, Home School)made a team save and kept it a 1-1 contest at the 73:59 mark. Lynchburg scored its second goal as just 29-seconds later as Ryan Renfronotched a header goal on a Reed corner kick to put the Hornets up 2-1.

Scott Colman's insurance goal late in the contest was the second of his career, as he converted on a Tony Dulakfree kick to give the Hornets a 3-1 advantage.

Lynchburg outshot Roanoke 19-8, including 10-4 in the decisive second-half, and also notched five corners to just two for the Maroons. Russell has a solid game in net, recording six saves while Matt Sturdivant posted three saves for the Hornets.

Roanoke will find out it's NCAA Tournament fate early next week. Please check the Roanoke athletics website at maroons.roanoke.edu for more information as it becomes available.

#8 Matthew Rowe, LC
#14 Hunter smith, LC
#15 Stephen Legg, LC
#4 Pat Brown, LC - Most Outstanding player