TIGERS EARN SEVENTH SHUT OUT, BEAT METHODIST 3-0

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA (October 12, 2005)- The Tigers benefited from two penalty kicks and an early goal to drop the visiting Methodist Monarchs by a score of 3-0. The victorious Tigers improve their record to 8-5-1 overall, while the Monarchs drop to 3-7-1.

An early goal from senior Bobby Hillman (Raleigh, NC/Leesville Road) and assist from freshman Robert Baybutt (Mechanicsville, VA/ Lee Davis) put the Tigers up 1-0 at the 7:30 mark in the first half. Soon thereafter, Hampden-Sydney found their team in a struggle that actually had them on the down side of total shots. The half ended with Methodist up in shots 11–4, but still trailing Hampden-Sydney by a score of 1-0.

Just 2:27 in to the second half, a foul was called inside the box against Methodist. The ensuing penalty kick was taken and successfully executed by senior Grant Dickens (Raleigh, NC/Leesville Road). The goal put Hampden-Sydney up 2-0 while igniting a frustrated Monarch offense, who continued to apply pressure in the Tiger's zone.

In need of a catalyst for his team, Head Coach Josh Laux inserted substitute freshman midfielder Jason "Peanut" Butler (Richmond, VA/Mills E. Godwin) to help the Tigers respond to the pressuring Monarchs. The Tigers answered with an offensive rush of their own. On a corner kick from freshman Baybutt, a yellow card foul was issued inside the box against Methodist once again. Consequently, Hampden-Sydney's penalty kick was an opportunity to put the game away for good. Once again, Grant Dickens took the kick. This time he unleashed a blast that found the net past a diving Methodist goalkeeper, Chris Dykstra. His multi-goal performance gives him the team lead in goals with six on the year.

This Friday, October 14, 2005 at 4:00pm, the Tigers will host Guilford College in an ODAC conference game that will have playoff implications for Hampden-Sydney.