UNCP offset a 13-9 first half shot disparity with a 9th minute goal by Erik Hayworth, and then busted the game wide open with three goals in the final 26 minutes to snap a 2-game losing streak with a 4-0 rout of visiting Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday evening at Varsity Grounds.
Coming off a gem of a performance in a 1-0 setback at 18th-ranked Limestone on Wednesday, goalkeeper Horatio Bynes picked up right where he left off - this time tallying a career-best eight saves, including seven in the first half alone. Carlos Cipriano and Rondell Honora paced the offense, each tallying a goal and an assist, with Erik Hayworth netting his second game-winning goal of the season.
Lenoir-Rhyne fired off three of the game’s first four shots, but it was Hayworth’s 9th minute shot off the woodwork that lit up the scoreboard first. A determined Lenoir-Rhyne squad would keep the chances coming for the remainder of the period but, each time, were happily greeted by Bynes to keep the visitors wanting. Despite a 13-9 shot advantage at the half, Lenoir-Rhyne went into the break clutching onto a 1-0 deficit on the scoreboard.
Bynes registered his eighth and final save of the night in the first minute of the second half, but he would not need to make anymore after that. Riding the emotions of the newcomer’s performance between the pipes, Rondell Honora scored the first of three goals in the final 26 minutes on a one-on-one situation with L-R netminder Luke Gibbons to put the game away. Cipriano and Dimmock would add insurance scores 59 seconds apart in the 77th and 78th minutes to provide the final.
UNCP will return to action again on Thursday when the squad opens up a 3-game road trip by traveling to Belmont Abbey (3-2-0) for a 4 p.m. contest at Alumni Field. The Braves will complete the road swing with dates at Catawba (Sept. 20) and St. Andrews (Sept. 24), before returning home to open up Peach Belt Conference play against Francis Marion on October 1 at 7 p.m.