Hornandez’s aim the distinction as College tops Trinity 1-0

MORGANTOWN — College sophomore Brayan Hornandez might need been the smallest participant on the sphere at Mylan Pharmaceutical Stadium Thursday night time. Fortunately for the Hawks, he may additionally have had the strongest leg.

Hornandez scored the one aim within the sport, a strike from the best aspect of the field within the second half, as College defeated cross-town foe Trinity Christian 1-0 to shut out its house schedule this season.

“That little man has the strongest foot on the staff,” UHS head coach Michael Smith mentioned of Hornandez. “It’s like a knuckleball each time it comes off his foot. I really feel unhealthy for keepers and (UHS goalie) Connor (Montgomery) hates it in follow. I can perceive what (Trinity goalie) Ben (Lohmann) needed to cope with there, it was an unbelievable shot.”

Hornandez’s aim got here 25 minutes into the second half of Thursday’s contest. It was the Hawks’ (8-8-1) ninth shot of the sport, however the first one the place they have been capable of finding just a little room and get a shot off with some velocity.

With Trinity (10-4-4) deploying a defensive formation of 9 gamers again on their very own half, College knew its most suitable choice was to regulate possession and get off as many pictures as doable till one lastly went in.

“You don’t wish to essentially should play that manner in a sport the place you’re attempting out a brand new formation, but it surely presents a brand new problem,” Smith mentioned. “The fellows have been getting just a little annoyed, particularly within the first half.”

The Hawks dominated possession, however Trinity’s defensive cluster ensured that there have been only a few exhausting pictures for senior goalie Ben Lohmann to cease. Lohmann completed with 18 saves, however many have been pictures from outdoors of the field that didn’t have an excellent likelihood to go in.

“We knew we wanted to defend extraordinarily effectively and to be compact,” Trinity coach Dan Lohmann mentioned. 

The draw back to the Warriors’ technique was that their probabilities on offense got here few and much between. Trinity threatened simply as soon as within the first half, on a throw-in on College’s aspect of the sphere, and didn’t get a shot within the second till there was 17:30 left to play.

“The wonderful thing about that’s if we are able to get a aim then if (Trinity) needs a end result they’ve to start out pushing and issues will open up,” Smith mentioned. “Brayan had a very good shot that I feel fooled Ben just a little bit.”

When Hornandez scored two minutes later, the Warriors needed to steadiness looking for the equalizer with staying sound defensively.

“It does change your mindset,” Dan Lohmann mentioned. “It’s a must to go and try to discover the equalizer, which opens you up extra to what they’re going to carry at you.”

The equalizer almost got here straight away when College despatched a ball between its personal goalie’s legs that mercifully rolled broad of the aim. 

Trinity’s greatest likelihood at a aim in the whole sport got here with 5:45 left when Carmelo Kniska bought free in College’s field and ripped a shot that UHS goalie Connor Montgomery was simply capable of redirect into the highest crossbar and away from the aim.

“A number of what we do is construct on protection, however now we have some dynamic gamers up prime with pace that may get by means of,” Dan Lohmann mentioned. “It was a unbelievable transfer for Carmelo to get round and nearly put one away.”

Montgomery wanted simply two saves to safe the shutout.

Each groups are taking part in out the top of the common season with the playoffs simply two weeks away. College performs at Buckhannon-Upshur on Saturday after which at Bridgeport on Wednesday.

“Trinity presents a unique set of issues than different groups we face,” Smith mentioned. “It’s an excellent staff to play going into Buckhannon and Bridgeport and the type that they play.”

Trinity, which received its second OVAC championship in three years on Saturday, has three video games left this yr, the primary of which is a house match in opposition to Lewis County on Saturday at midday.

“We talked after the OVAC (championship) that it was an superior achievement and for them to do it for the second time in three years and to be within the title sport three years in a row is superior,” Dan Lohmann mentioned. “But additionally we mentioned we have to go ahead. We have to take these 4 video games and hold constructing and getting higher in direction of the playoffs.”