FREDERICKSBURG, Va.--The Hood College men's soccer team (7-8, 2-5 CAC) dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 Capital Athletic Conference decision to the University of Mary Washington Eagles (8-5-2, 3-3-1 CAC) Saturday afternoon.

Both teams came into today's matchup seeking a berth in the six-team CAC tournament. The Eagles move into a tie with Stevenson University for third place while the Blazers slip to a tie for eighth place with one CAC contest remaining. The Blazers must win at first-place York College (Pa.) Tuesday and have help from other CAC teams in order to clinch one of the elusive six playoff spots.

UMW scored the only goal of the first half by either team in the 16th minute. The Blazers were held without a shot in the opening stanza.

First-year Eric Diehl changed that trend and continued his impressive rookie campaign with his fifth goal of the season off a free kick just 1:41 into the second half. Sophomore Jaime Ramirez was credited with the assist, his CAC-best 10th of the season. His 10 assists tie Hood's single-season record, also held by assistant coach Tom Noonan.

The Eagles posted a pair of goals within a span of three minutes to go up 3-1 with less than seven minutes remaining. But the Blazers wouldn't go away as junior Chris Mendez tacked on his team-leading 11th goal of the fall in the 85th minute to pull Hood to within one. Mendez had a chance at the equalizer a little more than a minute later but his header attempt was saved by Blake Weiss. Naseem Zietoon's try just before the final horn was off the mark and the Eagles came away with the narrow victory.

Will Lane made three saves in the net for Hood in defeat.

The Blazers travel to face the 7-0 Spartans Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.