(HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA) - Hampden-Sydney College defeated Bridgewater College, currently ranked 10th in the NSCAA South Region, 3-1 on senior night in what would unfortunately be the Tigers' last game of the 2004 season. Bridgewater slips to 8-5-3 overall and 4-3-2 in the conference while the Tigers finish up the year at 3-11-3 and 1-6-2 in the ODAC. Emotions rode high on Miller Field as Tiger seniors Brian Goeckerman (Raleigh, NC/Wake Forest-Rolesville), Mike Kraemer (Roanoke, VA/Cave Spring), and Bobby Hillmann (Raleigh, NC/Leesville Road) would put on their Hampden-Sydney jerseys for the last time. Rallying in the first half, the Tigers put pressure on Bridgewater out shooting them 15-5, but were unable to find the net; sending the game into the break knotted at zero.
Hampden-Sydney drew first blood as defender Michael Kraemer scored his fourth goal of the season on a penalty kick set up by Brian Goeckerman drawing a foul in the box at 47:03.
Continuing the attack, freshman midfielder Greg Danahy (Roanoke, VA/Hidden Valley) played a perfect ball to Grant Dickens (Raleigh, NC/University of Richmond/Leesville Rd) who hammered a shot into the bottom left corner of the net for his second goal in two games since being moved from defender to forward.
Grant Dickens has been asked to play every position on the field this year and may have found his spot as a forward
Enjoying his new found position, Dickens chipped a 35-yard shot over the Bridgewater goalkeeper's outstretched arms for his second goal of the day, third goal in two games, and a 3-0 lead. Patrick Albrecht (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) chalked up his second assist of the season on the play with a monster throw in delivered perfectly to Grant.
Bridgewater mid-fielder John Costello (Midlothian, VA/Midlothian) stopped the bleeding as he found the net with just 35 seconds remaining for a final score of 3-1.
Bridgewater held a slight advantage on corner kicks 3-2 but was out shot by Hampden-Sydney 26-20. The Tigers put 14 of their 26 shots on goal compared to Bridgewater's 11.
Hampden-Sydney goalkeeper Pierce Buckingham (Richmond, VA/Christchurch) had another outstanding effort in front of the net racking up 10 saves. Buckingham has been a major factor in the late season success of the Tigers.
Senior Brian Goeckerman returned from an early season injury and has started 3 of the 7 games he's played.
The Tigers are doing what every coach in the nation wants; they are peaking at the end of the season. Hampden-Sydney was undefeated in their last three games and playing their best soccer.
H-SC Head Coach Josh Laux feels, "It's definitely a shame that we didn't make the tournament, but rewarding to see us come together and play this well. We beat a very good team, finished our chances, and had a great team effort. I'd like to personally thank our three seniors (Goeckerman, Kraemer, and Hillmann) for a great season."
Congratulations to the Hampden-Sydney soccer graduating class of 2005.
