(October 21, 2009) HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA – In a clash of two Old Dominion Athletic Conference heavyweights, the Hampden-Sydney Tigers and Lynchburg Hornets did not fail to deliver an intense and exciting game. Lynchburg prevailed on a goal in the second overtime period by Scott Colman to halt Hampden-Sydney's record winning streak at nine games.

The match was physical from the start, with both sides jockeying for loose balls and possession constantly. The action was fast-paced, but neither side was able to break through in the first half. Both teams were held well below their average in the half, with Lynchburg getting off six shots to the Tigers' two. One of those two, however, came on a great chance for the home squad in the 19th minute. A turnover by the Lynchburg defense deep in their own territory found freshman Nick DeProspero (Midlothian, VA/Cosby) with the ball at the top of the penalty box. He ripped a shot that skidded just wide of the goal to keep the score knotted at zero.

The second stanza began just as the first left off, with both teams throwing everything they had at each other and continued physical action. Hampden-Sydney received some inspired play from a host of players, notably junior Sam Turner (Richmond, VA/Benedictine), who was battling through illness to anchor the Tigers' back line. In a game that saw 36 fouls and 10 cards, it was a foul in the penalty area that got Lynchburg on the board first in the 70th minute. The Hornets' Josh Reed banged home the penalty kick to give Lynchburg the lead.

The Tigers would not give up, however and did not lose any resolve even as the clock ticked down. Their persistence paid off in the 86th minute when they earned a corner kick that sailed over the box. Freshman Curran Blackwell (Wilson, NC/Greenfield) chased the ball down on the right side of the box and served it back into the middle of a scrum of players. Lynchburg's goalkeeper punched the ball out, but it ricocheted off of several players and right onto the waiting foot of senior Brett Chonko (Farmville, VA/Prince Edward), who knocked it into the net to even the score at one apiece.

The two teams headed to overtime exhausted from a passionate regulation period, and neither side was able to score another goal. The Tigers took one shot in the first overtime period to the Hornets' three, but neither side could muster up a tally. The two sides began the second overtime with aggression and effort despite their fatigue, and it culminated in the dramatic finish to end the game. On the play, a long ball from Lynchburg's defense bounced over the head of a Hampden-Sydney defender where Colman was able to get to it first and lob a shot over the charging Tiger goalkeeper that bounced into the net to seal the game.

The performance from both sides was to be expected from two of the teams at the top of the ODAC standings. With the loss, the Tigers drop to 13-3-0 overall and 6-2-0 in the ODAC, while Lynchburg moves to 12-1-2 overall and 6-0-2 in the ODAC. Hampden-Sydney will have another chance at their 14th win of the season on Saturday, October 24th when they travel to face the Generals of Washington and Lee University. Kickoff for the game is set for 1 pm.