Lynchburg 2, Ohio Wesleyan 0

Lynchburg's Kyle Symczak scored what proved to the game-winning goal in the 51st minute and the Hornets went on to defeat second-ranked Ohio Wesleyan in an NCAA Division III quarterfinal contest on Sunday at Roy Rike Field.

Lynchburg advances to a national semifinal game against Bowdoin on Dec. 3 in San Antonio, Texas. The other semifinal matches Messiah against Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Each team had a scoring chance in the early moments of the contest. Senior midfielder Tyler Wall (Columbus/Upper Arlington) sent a lead pass that freed junior forward Travis Wall (Columbus/Upper Arlington) on a breakaway in the fourth minute, but Lynchburg's Michael Releford was able to make the save.

Less than a minute later, the Hornets had a throw-in in the Ohio Wesleyan end, and Stephen Brooks put a header on goal, with Ohio Wesleyan keeper Paul Hendricks (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) there to corral the ball.

The Bishops came close to taking the lead midway through the half after earning a corner kick. Senior back Eric Laipple (Westerville/South) sent the ball into the penalty area, but a header by senior back Ryan Harmanis (Hilliard/Davidson) was cleared off the line by Hornet defender Tyler Romano.

Travis Wall was fouled in the first minute of the second half, giving the Bishops a restart less than the width of the ball outside the Lynchburg penalty area, but junior midfielder Dylan Stone (Easton, Conn./Barlow) sent his free kick over the crossbar.

The Hornets took the lead after earning a corner kick. Shane Spanninger served the ball into the box and the ball rattled around before Symczak lined up a shot from the left side and found the back of the net with 39:33 left in regulation time.

Hendricks made a pair of spectacular saves in keeping the Bishops within 1-0 in the 61st minute. Symczak worked free in the Ohio Wesleyan penalty area and ripped a shot from the right side that Hendricks blocked. Michael Abbonizio was right there for the rebound and blasted a one-time shot, but Hendricks blocked that shot as well and the Bishop defense cleared the ball.

Ohio Wesleyan had shots by freshman forward Jon Stegner (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) and Tyler Wall sail over the crossbar midway through the half, and the Bishops kept up the pressure, with senior back Brian Greene (Beavercreek) sending a restart over the crossbar after a Lynchburg hand ball in the 85th minute, and Stegner sending a shot just outside the left post after Travis Wall found him open at the top of the box in the 88th minute.

Lynchburg iced the game in the closing seconds when Spanninger intercepted a clearing attempt and scored into the unprotected goal with :07 remaining.

Ohio Wesleyan outshot Lynchburg, 28-17. Hendricks finished with 6 saves in the Bishop goal, while Releford made 10 saves for the Hornets.

Box Score