HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA – The Hampden-Sydney soccer team opened the Spring 2021 season with a 2-1 win over Emory & Henry College in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action on Sunday night. Sophomore Connor Brooks/Springfield scored a pair of goals with an assist on each of his goals from freshmen Declan Shaw/Durham, NC and John Alexander/Wake Forest, NC.

Just 2:13 into the first half, Brooks found the back of the net for the first time this season off a short pass from Shaw. With the turf still wet from the rain earlier in the day and a fog rolling in, the Tigers controlled the ball most of the first half, out shooting the Wasps 10-1. Senior goalie Gray Sutter/Clinton, NC saved the only shot he faced in the first half. The Tigers also had six to one corner kick lead in the opening frame.

In an almost identical time from the start of the half, Brooks scored his second goal and game-winner just two minutes and 22 second into the period at the 47:38 mark of the contest, giving H-SC the 2-0 lead. It was Alexander who passed the ball to Brooks inside the box. Once again both the Tigers and Wasps went back and forth on possession with E&H finding Sutter out of the box to cover a long pass and miss-kicked ball from Gavin Bagwell trickled into the net pulling the visitors within one goal at 2-1 at the 73:14 mark.

The Hampden-Sydney defense proved too much for the Wasps in the final 16:46, preventing any Emory & Henry shots to preserve the 2-1 win. Sutter (1-0) picks up his first win of the season. The Tigers led the Wasps in shots (27-12), shots on goal (12-2), and corner kicks (13-1). The visiting goalies were forced to make 10 saves to on the night.

The Tigers (1-0, 1-0 ODAC) will play again this Thursday, March 4 when they travel to rival Randolph-Macon. The game against the Yellow Jackets will begin at 7 p.m. in Ashland.