Needing a win over second-place Washington and Lee to lock up an ODAC playoff berth, the EMU soccer men suffered a 2-0 loss and will be left awaiting the outcome of a game on Wednesday.

The Royals are in the strange place of rooting for rival Bridgewater in the ODAC's final game.  If the Eagles beat Shenandoah, BC claims seventh place and leaves EMU in a tie with Hampden-Sydney for eighth.  Eastern Mennonite would get the ODAC's eighth seed based on a head-to-head win over HSC.  However, if Shenandoah upsets Bridgewater, the Eagles would finish in a three-way tie with EMU and Hampden-Sydney, sending the three teams into a complicated tie-breaker system to determine the final two seeds.  The ODAC Tournament starts on Saturday, with the top four seeds hosting quarterfinal games.

Against Washington and Lee Tuesday night, the Royals started out tentatively.  W&L out-played the men, holding a 10-2 edge in shots in the first half.  The visitors scored on both of their shots on goal, grabbing a 2-0 lead by the 29th minute.

Eastern Mennonite settled down in the second and went on the attack.  Senior Ian Mast (Willow Street, PA/Lancaster Mennonite) had an inside shot blocked after a corner kick in the 49th minute.  A minute later, Mark Mast (Harrisonburg, VA/Eastern Mennonite) drove a shot to the goal, but right at the Generals' keeper.

The men nearly got into the scoring column after another corner in the 64th minute.  Sebastian Olguin (Harrisonburg, VA/Harrisonburg) put a shot towards the left side of the goal, and only a W&L defender was there to knock it away and keep the Royals off the scoreboard.

Over the final 26 minutes, the men got a few more scoring chances, but couldn't find the net, taking the shutout loss.

Eastern Mennonite had a 7-6 advantage in shots in the second half, and a 6-1 edge in corner kicks.  Olguin and Seth Suttles (Harrisonburg, VA/Eastern Mennonite) each had two of the men's shots.  Andrew Yoder (Harrisonburg, VA/Eastern Mennonite) made three saves in goal.

Olguin, Ian Mast and Ryan Eshleman (Harrisonburg, VA/Eastern Mennonite) were honored before the game as the team's three seniors.

The loss leaves the Royals with a record of 8-10-1 at the conclusion of the regular season, including 5-6 in the balanced Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

ODAC Tournament pairings will be announced followed the conclusion of the Bridgewater/Shenandoah game Wednesday night.