FREDERICKSBURG, VA - The Hampden-Sydney Tigers soccer team played their best game of the season thus far and had many chances to score, but some bounces didn't got their way as the Mary Washington Eagles, ranked fourth in the South Atlantic Region and receiving votes in the national poll, defeated H-SC 2-1.

In a very evenly contested game, the Tigers battled Mary Washington for all 90 minutes. UMW's Ryan Taibl scored just five minutes into the contest and then scored again in the 29th minute off a T.L. Tutor pass. The Tigers quickly answered back as two defenders stepped up to put H-SC on the board as Curran Blackwell (Wilson, NC/Greenfield) converted on a Matt Hampton (Virginia Beach, VA/Kellam) pass to make it a 2-1 contest.

H-SC had chances to tally the tying goal throughout the remainder of the game. With just under three minutes left in the game, Bryan Hughes (Midlothian, VA/Cosby) fired off a shot but luck was not on the Tigers side as the shot bounced off the post.

The Hampden-Sydney defense stepped up to the big challenge today as the defense pressured the Eagles out of their game and suffocated them through the midfield. The offense was also crisp as they were very dangerous on the attack and connected well on combination plays. The stats indicated the even play as each team had 12 shots (3 on goal) and UMW had a 5-4 edge in corner kicks.

Hampden-Sydney hosts perennial ODAC power Virginia Wesleyan College on Wednesday at 4 p.m. on Miller Field.