DANVILLE, Va. – Clashing relentlessly for 90 minutes, Averett University men's soccer lost by a single goal, 1-0 to Hampden-Sydney, receiving votes in the Division III United Soccer Coaches poll, on Saturday night.
Before the contest kicked off, the Cougars honored their seven seniors, including
Anibal Lopez,
Mario Gutierrez,
Diego Giffuni,
Hudson Bradley,
Jonthomas Buckley,
Juan Jaraba, and
Nicholas Breen.
Hampden-Sydney (7-1-0, 1-0-0 ODAC) were the more offensive team early and late throughout the first half, sniffing chances. Just a few minutes out from halftime intermission, Ubaid Wasi nearly got a ball through to the low left corner, but Lopez put the threat out of reach to keep the game scoreless, and Averett (2-3-3, 0-1-0 ODAC) at par with the Tigers.
All seemed well up until the 66th minute, where following a turnover of possession, Victor Omalle-Mares dribbled through multiple Cougar defenders, and slotted a shot into the bottom left corner for what would eventually be the game-winning goal.
Lopez, the reigning ODAC Defensive Player of the Week, tallied yet more saves to his elite tally in 2025, with seven versus Hampden-Sydney.
Next up, Averett heads to the away confines of Durham, North Carolina to contest sixteenth-ranked Duke University in an exhibition on Tuesday, Sept. 30. Start time is set for 7 p.m.
