Video :: Longwood University Men's Soccer 2013 Preview

Head Coach Jon Atkinson takes a look at the upcoming season, who to watch, and why he's excited about the team's second year in Big South Conference competition!

Former Longwood Men's Soccer Star signs with Bolivian club The Strongest

FARMVILLE, Va. – Former Longwood University men’s soccer standout Adel Sarras/Santa Cruz, Bolivia was recently signed to a professional contract by The Strongest, a storied Bolivian club that plays in the country’s top division and the only squad to win three league championships in its history.

“Adel has experienced more in his short life than many do in a lifetime and it is these experiences that help shape a person’s future,” said head coach Jon Atkinson. “Right now, Adel is pursuing his dream and I know his Longwood family, and many more, are rooting for him every step of the way.”

Sarras, who logged 59 career appearances as a Lancer, including 15 starts, earned the chance to tryout for the team that is based in his native country and boasts several national team members, and took advantage of the opportunity.

“I learned about this opportunity through a lifelong friend, who contacted the head coach of The Strongest, and was able to give me a tryout,” Sarras said. “I was taking a huge risk, but thankfully it paid off.”

The 6-1 midfielder believes that his experience at Longwood was pivotal in preparing him for his chance at a professional career.

“Playing college soccer for a Division I program prepared me for the professional ranks in many ways, including the non-stop schedule, training and the highly competitive games,” explained Sarras. “At Longwood, watching film, lifting, running and creating a bond with my teammates helped me become the player that I am today.”

Sarras has encountered one challenge, though, that his time in Farmville could not prepare him for.  

“At first, it was really difficult for me to adjust to the altitude in La Paz, which is the highest capital city in the world,” commented Sarras. “The altitude affected my endurance and the ball movements were totally different.”

But, despite the altitude, the former Lancer has not let anything stop him from taking his game to new heights.

“I have gotten accustomed to it by learning how to pace myself a bit more, and knowing how and when to use my energy,” concluded Sarras.

“I am doing really well with the adjustments and am competing for a starting spot against some of the country´s best players.”    

Longwood Men Fall To Winthrop in Regular-Season Finale

LONGWOOD FALLS TO WINTHROP IN REGULAR-SEASON FINALE

 

 

ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Longwood University men’s soccer team fell, 2-0, to Big South Conference opponent Winthrop University (9-7-1, 5-3-1 BSC) in the squad’s regular-season finale on Wednesday, October 31 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Ten different Lancers notched at least one shot in the outing for Longwood (3-12-3, 2-7-1 BSC). The Lancers are currently in contention for a spot in the eight-team Big South Conference Tournament. The final standings will be revealed on Saturday, November 3, following the Presbyterian-VMI match. Should LU advance to the tournament, the team will play a quarterfinal match on the road on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

“While the result put us in a helpless position of not being able to control our own destiny when it comes to the conference tournament, there were plenty of positives to take from this game,” said head coach Jon Atkinson. “I felt we played some of our best soccer all season and the effort was fantastic. Winthrop defended their home turf well and took their goals well. We were a little disappointed to concede a goal with seconds remaining in the first half due to our first breakdown all night. We controlled the game for large parts of the second half, from start to finish, and while a counter-attack goal stunned us, there were many chances to change the course of events.

“This season has been an invaluable experience for this young squad, who competed well with almost everyone, but lacked a cutting edge. We will cross our fingers and hope for the results to fall our way, but in any effect, I am enthused about the potential this squad has.”

Junior Jared Windt|Haymarket (Battlefield), sophomores Daena Bodie|Guernsey, England (St. Sampson's Secondary School) and Jonathan Kukapa|Leesburg (Clarksburg Md.), and freshmen Sam Yardley|Fairfax Station (Robinson) and Ikechukwu Etonyeaku|Norfolk (Maury) led the Lancers with two shots apiece on the night. Seniors Devin Pierce|Virginia Beach (Ocean Lakes) and Adel Sarras|Burke (Annandale), sophomore Anthony Ugorji|Washington, D.C. (Archbishop Carroll), and freshmen Zach Corcoran|Martinsville (Martinsville) and Mike Durr|Brandon, Miss. (Brandon) each notched one shot, as well. Sophomore goalkeeper Paul Hegedus|Ashburn (Broad Run) recorded two saves in the complete-game performance.

The squads battled for possession in the first half, as both sides struggled to get on the board. The Lancers had a chance to break the game open with back-to-back shots from Pierce and Kukapa. Pierce launched a hard ball from 25-yards out, but it sailed just wide. Kukapa followed, saving a cross from going out-of-bounds before turning to fire a low shot back across the goal, missing wide right.

With just over 30 seconds remaining in the half, Magnus Thorsson sent a through ball over top of the LU defense and bouncing towards the net for Marc Segarra, who tapped it by Hegedus to give the Eagles the slight, 1-0 lead at the half.

Longwood took control of the momentum coming out of the break, outshooting Winthrop, 10-2, in the second half and had several opportunities to knot the game. Durr threatened for the Lancers when he collected a pass and ripped a shot towards the left corner, but a good save by WU’s Enrique Miranda extinguished the opportunity. In the 74^th minute, Windt took a one-touch shot off of a drop pass from 10-yards out before Miranda pulled through for the Eagles once again, this time on a diving save.

Winthrop added an insurance goal in the 82^nd minute, as Achille Obougou made a move to draw Hegedus out of his position before sending a pass to Adriano Negri for the one-timer that found the empty net.

The Lancers tried to pull within one in the 85^th minute on a header to the back post by Ugorji, but the shot was knocked away by the falling Eagles’ keeper, sealing the 2-0 victory for Winthrop.

Longwood outshot Winthrop, 15-10, in the contest, while Winthrop took a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks. Wednesday’s match marked the sixth meeting ever between the Lancers and the Eagles in the sport of men’s soccer. Winthrop now leads the series, 6-0.

Longwood Hosting Big South Conference Women's Soccer Quarterfinal Saturday

LONGWOOD TO HOST BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE WOMEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERFINAL SATURDAY

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University will host a Big South Conference Women’s Soccer Championshipquarterfinal match on Saturday, October 27, against Liberty University at the Athletics Complex in Farmville at 6 p.m.  The Lancers, who have a record of 13-5-1 overall, 8-2-1 in the Big South, are the number three seed in the eight-team tournament.  The Flames, who have a record of 11-7-2 overall, 5-4-2 in the Big South, are the number six seed.  Longwood and Liberty will be meeting for the second time in five days after the Lancers’ 1-0 road win against the Flames in the regular-season finale on Tuesday in Lynchburg.  The postseason Big South Championship event includes ticket prices of $4 for adults and $1 for students with an ID.  Admission is free for children ages five and under.

“This is a special opportunity for our program and we earned the right to host with what we accomplished in the regular season,” said 19th-year head coach Todd Dyer ‘93.  “Now we hope to capitalize on our home field advantage with the support of our Longwood and Farmville community.  Go Lancers!”
    
The 2012 Big South Women's Soccer Championship quarterfinals will be played at campus sites before moving to Rock Hill, South Carolina for the semifinals and finals on November 2-4.  The quarterfinals and semifinals will air on the Big South Network, with the finals airing on ESPN3.  The Big South Tournament Champion receives an automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship.
    
High Point University (9-5-6, 8-1-2) is the top seed and will host the eight seed Charleston Southern University (7-10-1, 5-6) on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.  Radford University (11-2-4, 7-0-4) is the number two seed and will host the seven seed Campbell University (10-7-1, 5-6) on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.  Winthrop University (10-6-2, 7-2-2) is the number four seed and will host the five seed Coastal Carolina University (10-8, 7-4) on Oct. 27 at 6 p.m.  The conference championship schedule is below.

Saturday, October 27 (Campus Sites)Game 1: #5 Coastal Carolina at #4 Winthrop, 6 p.m.
Game 2: #8 Charleston Southern at #1 High Point, 7 p.m.
Game 3: #7 Campbell at #2 Radford, 7 p.m.
Game 4: #6 Liberty at #3 Longwood, 6 p.m.

Friday, November 2 (Winthrop)Game 5: winner game 1 vs. winner game 2, 4:30 p.m.
Game 6: winner game 3 vs. winner game 4, 7 p.m.

Sunday, November 4 (Winthrop)Game 7: winner game 5 vs. winner game 6, 2 p.m.

Longwood Men blanked by Navy

LONGWOOD FALLS TO NAVY 3-0

 

FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University men’s soccer team dropped a 3-0 decision to the U.S. Naval Academy (6-5-3), who scored three second half goals to earn the victory on Tuesday evening in Farmville. Sophomore Jonathan Kukapa|Leesburg, Va. (Clarksburg Md.) notched three shots, including two on goal, to lead the Lancers (3-11-3). Longwood will play its final game of the regular season at Big South Conference opponent Winthrop University on Wednesday, October 31 at 7 p.m.

“After a bright opening where we took the game to Navy, we faded somewhat and fell victim to some tireless Navy running,” said head coach Jon Atkinson. The keys to our success will come from converting good possession into chances when we are on top, but currently we are finding this hard to come by and need to find the formula in our last conference game.

“Our playing seniors worked hard tonight and it’s a shame we couldn’t get the win for all the seniors, but we are proud of them all the same.”

Three other Lancers also posted at least one shot in the match. Freshman Zach Corcoran|Martinsville (Martinsville) put two shots on goal, while senior Devin Pierce|Virginia Beach (Ocean Lakes) and sophomore Taylor Evans|South Riding (Freedom) registered one shot apiece on the night.

The teams battled for possession throughout the entire first half, with Longwood taking a slight 5-4 shot advantage in the first 45 minutes of the match. The Lancers had a chance to get on the board in the 10^th minute when a corner kick by freshman Rhys Cairns|Washington, England (St. Roberts of Newminster RC School) found Kukapa, who sent a hard shot toward the back left corner of the net, but a diving save by Navy’s Gavin Snyder extinguished the opportunity.

The Navy offense went on the attack late in the half in an effort to break the stalemate before the period expired. In the 40^th minute, Jamie Dubyoski took the ball on a breakaway down the right side of the field before firing a shot on net, but freshman goalkeeper Seth Erdman|Hummelstown, Pa. (Lower Dauphin) made a strong save, allowing the Lancers to clear the ball out of their defensive zone and send the teams into the break knotted at 0-0.

Coming out of halftime, Navy took control of the momentum, taking a 1-0 lead in the 48^th minute when Thomas Shilba gained possession of the ball, dribbled around defender and sent a shot skidding by Erdman to lower right corner of the net.

Longwood answered with an opportunity to tie the game in the 53^rd minute, as freshman Will Lambert|Charlottesville (Monticello) lobbed a deep pass to Corcoran in front of the net for the one-timer, but the Midshipmen goalkeeper turned away the attempt to maintain the one-goal lead for his squad.  

Navy added two insurance goals in the latter part of the second half. The first came in the 68^th minute when Eric Skogerboe sent a cross to the top of the box where teammate Grant Valenstein launched a shot past the outstretched fingers of a jumping Erdman to make it a 2-0 game. Dave Arnold followed with an unassisted goal from the right side of the box in the 83^rd minute to score the Midshipmen’s final goal of the night, sealing the 3-0 victory.  

Navy outshot Longwood, 15-7, in the contest and had a 4-2 edge in corner kicks. Tuesday’s match marked the fifth meeting ever between the Lancers and the Midshipmen in the sport of men’s soccer. Longwood still holds a slight, 3-2 advantage in the all-time series.

Seniors Evan Jones|Midlothian (Midlothian), Vinnie Llana|Raleigh, N.C. (Broughton), Patrick McDaniel|Midlothian (Cosby), Devin Pierce, Adel Sarras|Burke (Annandale) and Mike Tegler|Stafford  (North Stafford) were recognized in a special pregame ceremony.

Longwood Men Lose 1-0 to American

LONGWOOD LOSES 1-0 IN FINAL MINUTES AT AMERICAN

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Longwood University men’s soccer team conceded a late goal to drop a 1-0 decision at American University (7-5-2) of the Patriot league on Wednesday afternoon. Senior Devin Pierce|Virginia Beach (Ocean Lakes) and sophomore Taylor Evans|South Riding (Freedom) led the Lancers (3-10-3) with two shots apiece in the outing. Longwood returns to action when its hosts the United States Naval Academy for Senior Night on Tuesday, October 23 at 7 p.m.

“This was a tight game in every sense of the word, only separated by a quality free kick late in the game,” said head coach Jon Atkinson. “While I don’t think we deserved all three points, I think a draw would have been a fair result. Overall, there are many, many positives I can see from this young team and they have been improving with every game. We had seven starting freshman out there today and none of them looked out of place, which bodes well for the future of Longwood men’s soccer.”

Four other Lancers also registered a shot in the match. Freshmen Sam Yardley|Fairfax Station (Robinson) and Will Lambert|Charlottesville (Monticello) put one shot on goal each, while sophomores Jonathan Kukapa|Leesburg (Clarksburg Md.) and Peter Sullivan|Herndon (Herndon) both notched a shot, as well. Freshman goalkeeper Seth Erdman|Hummelstown (Lower Dauphin) made his first collegiate start, tallying a season-high five saves in his first ever complete-game performance.

The squads battled for possession in the first half of the match, with neither side able to find the back of the net. The Lancers had an opportunity to get on the board when Pierce broke down the right side of the field and sent a well-placed cross to Kukapa for the tap in, but an Eagles’ defender beat him to the ball for the clear, extinguishing the chance and sending the teams into halftime knotted at 0-0.

Coming out of the break, the stalemate continued, with both teams fighting for the upper hand in the evenly-matched contest. The Lancers tried to pull ahead in the midst of the half, as Pierce set up Lambert for the one-timer, but the shot was well-saved by the American goalkeeper.

The deciding goal came in the 85^th minute of play when the Eagles were awarded a free kick following a Longwood foul. Charlie Hunter lined up to take the shot for American, sending the ball hard towards the post before it bounced in for the game-winner.

American outshot Longwood, 13-8, in the match and took a slight, 5-4 edge in corner kicks. Wednesday’s contest marked the first meeting ever between the Lancers and the Eagles in the sport of men’s soccer. 

Logwood Women Beat Winthrop in OT, 2-1

LONGWOOD DEFEATS BIG SOUTH OPPONENT WINTHROP 2-1 (OT)

Longwood Sophomore, Kylie Dyer

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University remained unbeaten at home in Big South Conference women’s soccer action on Thursday evening, taking a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory past Winthrop University at the Athletics Complex in Farmville.  Sophomore Kylie Dyer|Farmville (Prince Edward County) scored the winning goal in the fourth minute of overtime for the Lancers (9-4, 4-1 Big South), assisted by classmate Kelsey McDonald|Kennett Square, Pa. (Unionville), as the hosts improved to 3-0 in league home matches with the win against the visiting Eagles (6-5-1, 3-1-1 Big South).  McDonald added a goal in the 22nd minute, assisted by junior Kelsey Pardue|Henrico (Hermitage).  Longwood will play again on Saturday afternoon, October 6, hosting Big South member Gardner-Webb University at the Athletics Complex in Farmville at 4 p.m.  The women’s soccer program will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of its 2002 Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference Championship, including a special halftime recognition of that title-winning team.
   
“It should be that hard to get a result against the first place team in the conference,” said 19th-year head coach Todd Dyer ‘93.  “The game got away from us in the second half in terms of our possession and composure in our back half, but we showed some life again at the end of regulation.
   
“Overtime was thrilling and worth all the stress.  Mac and Kylie did a great job of combining on the goal after Otto forced a huge save early in the period.”
   
Longwood led 1-0 at the intermission after McDonald scored the opening goal at 21:44, finishing a well-played through ball down the left side from Pardue.  It was McDonald’s second goal this season, and the fifth assist for Pardue, who leads the conference in scoring with 15 points (five goals, five assists).  Winthrop came out strong in the second half and tied the game at 1-1 with a goal from Grace Radler at 64:49, assisted by Taylor Walton on a ball played in from the right side.  It remained 1-1 through 90 minutes, though the Lancers almost ended it in regulation on a solid shot by senior captain Lindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson) with less than a minute on the clock that was saved by Eagles’ keeper Amelia Henderson.
   
In the overtime period, Dyer collected a pass to the box from McDonald on the left side and promptly finished it into the net with a hard shot to the lower left corner at 93:11.  It was Dyer’s third goal this fall, and the first game-winning goal of her career.
   
Longwood had a 14-7 advantage in shots, including 6-3 in attempts on goal, and it was 7-1 on corner kicks.  Ottavio and McDonald each had three shots, two on goal, while Dyer and Pardue each added two shots, one on goal.  Senior keeper Kyra Byron|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) played the duration in front of the net for the Lancers with two saves.
   
Radler had two shots, both on goal, for Winthrop, while Henderson played the duration for the Eagles with four saves.
   
Longwood and Winthrop were playing for the first time in the sport of women’s soccer, and the Lancers now lead the series, 1-0.

Radford Men Shutout Longwood Lancers, 3-0

LONGWOOD FALLS TO RADFORD 3-0

 

FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University men’s soccer team dropped a 3-0 decision to Big South Conference opponent Radford University (5-2-3, 3-0) on Wednesday evening in Farmville. Freshman Ikechuwu Etonyeaku|Norfolk (Maury) led the Lancers (3-8-1, 2-6-1) with two shots in the outing. Longwood will return to action Saturday, October 6 when the squad travels to George Mason University for a 7 p.m. tilt.

“Fair credit can be given to Radford, who worked hard to make it difficult for us and took their opportunities well, but we have to question how much we participated in the result,” said head coach Jon Atkinson. “In the first half, our performance lacked purpose, but at 1-0, we always had a chance. Just as we were starting to get a grip of the game, we were very unfortunate to go a man down, which made the task even harder. With that being said, we played better with 10 and finally showed some enterprise in the final third. I hope we heed some lessons to finish the season well.”

In addition to Etonyeaku, three other Lancers registered a shot on the night. Senior Devin Pierce|Virginia Beach, senior Adel Sarras|Burke (Annandale) and freshman Rhys Cairns|Washington, England (St. Roberts of Newminster RC School) each posted one shot in the match. Sophomore goalkeeper Paul Hegedus|Ashburn (Broad Run) registered four saves in 68:45 in front of the net. Freshman Seth Erdman|Hummelstown, Pa. (Lower Dauphin) came off the bench to play the last 21:15 of the game.

Radford controlled the momentum early and was awarded a penalty kick in the fifth minute following a Longwood foul. Bernado Ulmo was successful on the attempt, finding the lower left corner of the net, to give the Highlanders an early 1-0 lead.

The teams battled back and forth in the middle of the field until an RU corner kick opportunity sparked a flurry of chances for the Highlanders in the 23^rd minute, but a strong defensive effort by the Lancers extinguished the opportunities. A Radford forward sent a shot toward the lower right post that was turned away by a diving Hegedus. A second shot was put on goal before Hegedus could recover, but freshman Sam Yardley|Fairfax Station (Robinson) took a good angle into the cage for the defensive save. The Highlanders picked up the rebound once again and sent a third shot toward the net, this time sailing just high and hitting the crossbar, allowing the Lancers to clear the ball and get out of the situation unscathed.

Neither team was able to find the net before the first half expired, sending the teams into the break with a one-goal differential. Coming out of halftime, Evan Jones|Midlothian (Midlothian) was issued a red card before Radford’s Jannik Eckenrode found the back of the net with a leaping shot to make it a 2-0 game.

The Lancers’ offense went on the attack in the 70^th minute, when Etonyeaku dished a pass across the box to Pierce, who fired off a hard shot that flew just wide of the net. Sarras followed with a shot of his own from 25 yards out, but it sailed just high before Etonyeaku put a shot on goal that was stopped the RU keeper.

The Highlanders added an insurance goal in 78^th minute from Ramzi Dridi. Wednesday’s match marked the 16^th meeting between Longwood and Radford in the sport of men’s soccer. With tonight’s victory, the Highlanders now hold a slight, 8-7-1 advantage in the all-time series.

Longwood Women's Soccer Week 6 Recap

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood split its first two Big South Conference road matches last week, winning 2-0 at Charleston Southern on September 27, before a 2-0 loss at Coastal Carolina on Sept. 29.  The Lancers are 8-4 overall, 3-1 in the Big South, and have already surpassed their win total from last season (7-7-4), while enjoying their finest season start since 2002 (9-2-1).  Longwood will play two conference home contests this week at the Athletics Complex in Farmville against Winthrop University on Thursday, October 4, at 5:30 p.m. (this is a time change from original schedule), and Gardner-Webb University on Saturday, Oct. 6, at 4 p.m.

Recapping CSU
Longwood took control early when junior Kelsey Pardue|Henrico (Hermitage), last week’s Big South Conference Attacking Player of the Week, scored her fifth goal of the season in the 18th minute with a shot to the upper right corner while assisted by sophomore Kelsey McDonald|Kennett Square, Pa. (Unionville).  Pardue contributed her fourth assist this fall when she played a long through ball into the box to freshman Haylea Witz|Chesapeake (Grassfield) who finished successfully in the 37th minute.  It was the second goal this year for Witz, and also the second assist for McDonald.  Senior keeper Kyra Byron|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) took care of the rest for the Lancers, making three saves en route to her fourth shutout this season, and the 11th shutout of her career.  Longwood and Charleston Southern were playing for the ninth time, and the Lancers now lead the series, 5-4.

Quoting Head Coach Todd Dyer
“That being our first road test, we felt pretty good about the result. We had a good start in terms of our ball movement and that helped us settle in and get that critical first goal … and the way we defended, that one was all we needed.”

Recapping CCU
It was scoreless at the intermission before Coastal Carolina scored the first goal in the 61st minute, and the Chanticleers added a late insurance goal in the 87th minute.  Longwood and Coastal Carolina were playing for the sixth time, and the Chanticleers now lead the series, 5-1.

Quoting Head Coach Todd Dyer
“Looking back on the whole 90 minutes, Coastal Carolina deserved that result.  They put us under a lot of pressure and we just didn’t deal with it well enough.  Offensively, we weren’t a consistent threat and that freed up their backs to get forward and create problems for us.  We are capable of playing at a higher level and we have to show that against a strong Winthrop squad.”

Leading The Lancers
Kelsey Pardue leads Longwood in scoring through 12 matches with her five goals and four assists totaling 14 points.  Senior captain Lindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson) adds two goals and three assists for seven points.  Sophomores Kylie Dyer|Farmville (Prince Edward County) (2g), Kelsey McDonald (1g, 2a) and Samantha Phillips|Chesapeake (Grassfield) (2g), along with Haylea Witz (2g) each contribute four points.  Senior Nikki Glisson|Mechanicsville (Hanover), as well as freshmen Bridget Bergquist|Bristow (Brentsville) and Alana Mackey|Leesburg (Loudoun County) each add one goal for two points apiece.  Sophomore Taylor Cave|Virginia Beach (Kellam) and freshman Olivia Colella|Herndon (Chantilly) each have one assist totaling one point. Kyra Byron has played 961 minutes in front of the net while allowing 11 goals (1.03) with 43 saves (.796) and 4.33 shutouts.  Junior keeper Shelby Hall|Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) has played 123 minutes in front of the net while allowing three goals (2.20) with nine saves (.750) and 0.33 shutouts.  Redshirt-sophomore Dana Wallace|Charlottesville (Home Schooled) has played 12 minutes in front of the net with 0.33 shutouts.

Coaching Milestone: 200 Career Wins
Todd Dyer, enjoying his 19th year as the founder and head coach of the Longwood women’s soccer program, now has an overall record of 201-123-20, including 14 winning seasons. A former standout midfielder at Longwood, he served as a team captain for two years and scored 15 goals during his four years, earning All-Virginia Intercollegiate Soccer Association (VISA) honors as a senior.  A native of Manassas, Dyer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Longwood in 1993.  He also coached the Longwood men’s soccer program for seven years (1996-2002), compiling a record of 75-53-7.

Quoting Head Coach Todd Dyer
“200 is a nice milestone and what it really reflects is that I’ve been fortunate to do what I love, at a place I love, for a long, long time. I’m blessed to have had the privilege of working with so many great people these past 19 years.  Our program’s future is very bright due to all of their hard work.”

Big South … Here We Are
Longwood has completed the non-league portion of its schedule and will play only Big South matches the rest of the season.  The Lancers play 11-straight Big South contests from Sept. 20 to Oct. 23.  The Big South Conference Tournament will include the top eight teams playing quarterfinal matches at the four highest seeds on Oct. 27, followed by semifinal matches on November 2 and the tournament championship contest on Nov. 4, hosted by Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

NCAA/Big South Statistics
Longwood ranked 65th in Division I winning percentage (.667) through Sept. 30, and 70th in shutout percentage (.417).  Kelsey Pardue ranked 11th in game-winning goals (4), 116th in assists (4), 118th in points (14) and 141st in goals (5).  Kyra Byron ranked 108th in goals-against average (1.03), 114th in save percentage (.796) and 148th in minutes (961). In Big South matches (4), the Lancers are first in goals-against-average (0.74), tied for first in shutouts (2), second in home attendance (432), tied for third in assists (6-1.5), while fifth in goals (8-2.0) and points (22-5.5).  Kelsey Pardue ranks first in goals (4-1.0), game-winning goals (3) and points (11-2.75), and is tied for first in assists (3-.75).  Kyra Byron ranks first in goals-against average (0.84) and is tied for third in save percentage (.800) and shutouts (.25).  Lindsey Ottavio is tied for fourth in assists (2-0.50).

Big South Conference/Attacking Player Of The Week
Kelsey Pardue was named the Big South Conference Attacking Player Of The Week Sept. 25 for her efforts during the 4-0 home win against UNC Asheville on Sept. 20 and the 2-1 overtime home win against Presbyterian on Sept. 22. She is Longwood’s third Big South Player of the Week (see below).  Pardue scored three goals -- two game-winners -- and added two assists to lead Longwood to a pair of Big South wins.  She was involved in all four scores against UNC Asheville, scoring the first and game-winning goal in the fourth minute with a hard shot into the net after a feed into the box.  Pardue returned the favor when she fed the ball in from the left side on the game’s second goal in the 12th minute, and added another assist as she played a through-ball in for a successful shot in the 19th minute.  She completed the scoring outburst when she got free down the middle of the field and beat the keeper one-on-one in the 21st minute.  Pardue capped her outstanding week with the game-winning goal in OT against Presbyterian.  She tallied the game-winner in the 105th minute when she dribbled up the middle through traffic and shot successfully to the right upper 90.  The talented third-year starter now totals 13 goals and 16 assists for 42 points in her career.  Pardue was also named the College Sports Madness Big South Player of the Week.

Big South Conference Defensive Player Of The Week
Kyra Byron was named the Big South Conference Defensive Player Of The Week Sept. 11 for her effort during a 1-0 shutout road victory at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County on Sept. 9.  She is Longwood’s second Big South Player of the Week.  Byron posted six saves for the Lancers against the Retrievers with five of her saves in the second half, including four after Longwood had taken a one-goal advantage.  It was the third shutout in six matches this season for Byron, the fourth-year team member who now totals 10 shutouts in her career to rank sixth all-time.

Big South Conference/Attacking Player Of The Week
Lindsey Ottavio was named the Big South Conference Attacking Player Of The Week August 28 for her effort during the 2-1 double-overtime home win past Richmond on August 24.  She is Longwood’s first Big South Player of the Week since the school joined the conference on July 1.  Ottavio scored two unassisted goals, including the game-winner just 50-seconds into the second extra period to lead the Lancers (3-1) past the Spiders.  She scored her first goal in the 65th minute, taking the ball through the middle of the box while beating both a defender and the keeper with a shot to the left side of the net at 64:35.  Ottavio finally ended the well-played match at 100:50 when she took a loose ball in the box and once again beat the keeper with a hard shot to the left side for the sudden victory.  The second-year team captain has eight game-winning goals in her career.  Ottavio was also named the College Sports Madness Big South Player of the Week.

Big South Network
Longwood produced its first-ever Big South Network live video-streamed broadcast against UNC Asheville Sept. 20. The Big South Network is the official video provider for all Big South Conference games. Each member institution is required to produce broadcasts for home events to be streamed via the conference network. The Lancers will stream three women’s soccer matches this fall, including the matches against visiting Winthrop University (Oct. 4) and Virginia Military Institute (Oct. 20).  The Big South Network has an archive of on-demand videos that can be viewed for free.  A paid subscription is required to view live events, with both single-game and season passes available.  You can view the Longwood Lancers TV page to watch all of the Lancers’ webcasts and see a schedule of upcoming events by visiting www.longwoodlancers.com or www.bigsouthsports.com.

In The Record Book
Kyra Byron ranks second in career goals against average (0.87), and fifth in minutes (3524) among keepers at Longwood, allowing just 34 goals.  Lindsey Ottavio ranks in a tie for third in career goals (24), and is tied for fifth in career points (58).

No Place Like Home
Longwood is now 45-15-2 (.758) on its home turf at the Athletics Complex since beginning competition at the facility in 2006.  The Lancers, 5-1 at home this season, are 38-14-1 (.726) in Farmville since attaining its NCAA Division I certification and eligibility for 2007.

2012 Captains
Lindsey Ottavio is serving as a team captain for the second consecutive season, while senior Natalie Massey|Virginia Beach (Landstown) is in the team leadership role for the first time.

Youth Being Served
Ten freshmen and/or sophomores have made starts through the opening 10 matches.  The Lancers have nine true sophomores and 10 true freshmen among their 28-player roster, and overall, 18 of them have seen action this season.

The Coaching Staff
Head coach Todd Dyer ’93 is in his 19th year leading Longwood and is assisted by associate head coach Steve Brdarski, in his ninth season, along with student assistant Rachel Powers ’14.  Coach Dyer enters this week with a career coaching record of 201-123-20.

Up Next Week
Longwood will go back on the road for two Big South matches in North Carolina at Campbell University on Thursday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m., before playing at High Point University on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 5 p.m.

Longwood Men's Soccer Week 6 Recap

ON THE PITCH: WEEK 6, LONGWOOD 3-7-1 (2-5-1 BSC)

FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University men’s soccer team went 1-1 last week to move to 3-7-1 overall and 2-5-1 in Big South Conference matches in 2012. The Lancers earned their first non-conference victory of the season with a 3-1 win at George Washington University on September 29 after falling, 1-0, to Big South foe Campbell at home on Sept. 26. Longwood returns to action on Wednesday, October 3 when the team hosts league opponent Radford at 7 p.m. at the Athletics Complex in Farmville.

Recapping George Washington

The squads were evenly matched in the first half, as both sides notched six shots and two corner kicks in the first 45 minutes. George Washington broke the game open in the 29th minute on a successful penalty kick. Just over seven minutes later, the Lancers retaliated when Jonathan Kukapa|Leesburg (Clarksburg Md.) dished a pass towards the left side of the box for sophomore Anthony Ugorji|Washington, D.C. (Archbishop Carroll), whose one-touch shot found the lower right corner of the net to knot the game at 1-1. The squads traded possessions in the remaining minutes of the half to head into the break still tied at one apiece.

Coming out of halftime, Kukapa scored the go-ahead goal and the eventual game-winner with assists from senior Devin Pierce|Virginia Beach (Ocean Lakes) and Sam Yardley|Fairfax Station (Robinson) in the 56th minute. The Lancers added an insurance goal in the 83rd minute, as Kukapa dribbled down the left side of the field and found freshman Zach Corcoran|Martinsville (Martinsville) open near the right post for the shot and goal to seal the 3-1 victory against the Colonials.

Kukapa notched his second career goal, in addition to a personal-best two assists en route to a career-high four points in the outing. Sophomore goalkeeper Paul Hegedus|Ashburn (Broad Run) recorded the first win of his career in net for Longwood, making three saves in the complete-game performance. Longwood and George Washington each registered 12 shots in the match, while George Washington took a slight, 5-3 advantage in corner kick opportunities. Saturday's contest marked the seventh meeting ever between the Lancers and the Colonials. After Longwood's victory, GW now holds a slim, 4-3 edge in the all-time series.

Head Coach Jon Atkinson on George Washington

“It's sometimes easier to be overly positive on the heels of a victory, but this was indeed a solid, enjoyable performance with plenty of positives for our team. Even after going down a goal in the first half, I was happy with how the boys applied themselves, and if it wasn't going to be our day, it wasn't going to be without playing some good, attractive soccer. Goals are the lifeblood of the game and we showed great character in the first half by coming back, but then we manufactured some excellent chances in the latter part of the second half. I'm glad for the squad, as they have been working so hard and have been improving with every game.”

Recapping Campbell

The teams battled back and forth in the middle of the field early in the game, as neither squad was able to get a shot off until the Camels hit the post on a header in the 19th minute. Longwood had a chance to break the game open several minutes later when senior Adel Sarras|Burke (Annandale) dribbled down the right side and sent a cross towards the net where sophomore Taylor Evans|South Riding (Freedom) was posted to pressure the defense, but the ball slipped out of bounds near the back post. Campbell posted three more shots in the first half before the game was delayed over 20 minutes due to a Longwood injury in the 38th minute of the match. When play resumed, Longwood and Campbell traded possessions until time expired, sending the teams into the break knotted at 0-0.

Coming out of halftime, the Lancers had a chance to get on the board in the 55th minute when a good cross found freshman Mike Durr|Brandon, Miss. (Brandon) inside the box for the redirect, but his shot skidded just right of the net. The stalemate continued through most of the second half, but Campbell's Mitchell Cardenas took control of the ball with just over 30 seconds remaining in regulation and lofted a shot towards the net that hit the crossbar before bouncing off the back of Hegedus and into the goal, securing the slim, 1-0 victory for the Camels. Campbell outshot Longwood, 9-2, in the outing and forced more corner kicks, 6-2. Wednesday's match marked the first meeting ever between Longwood and Campbell in the sport of men's soccer.

Head Coach Jon Atkinson on Campbell

“We can take heart from the fact that we worked hard and looked the most organized that we have all season. To concede with an own goal with seconds to go is a tough pill to swallow, but knowing the character of our lads, I know we will bounce back and continue to improve.”

Lancers Are Live on the Big South Network

Longwood is video streaming three men’s soccer broadcasts this season, including the squad’s next match against Radford on Oct. 3. The Big South Network is the official video provider for all Big South Conference games. Each member institution is required to produce broadcasts for home events to be streamed via the conference network. A paid subscription is required to view live events, with both single-game and season passes available. You can watch all of the Lancers' webcasts and see a schedule of upcoming events by visiting www.longwoodlancers.com or www.bigsouthsports.com.

Big South Conference Attacking Player of the Week

Senior Devin Pierce|Virginia Beach (Ocean Lakes) was recognized as the Big South Conference Attacking Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 11. This honor marks the first-ever Big South men's soccer Player of the Week selection for Longwood. Pierce posted two goals to lead Longwood to a 1-1 record during the week, including its first-ever Big South men's soccer victory.  After scoring the team's lone goal against UNC Greensboro on Sept. 4, Pierce notched the game-winner on a penalty kick at UNC Asheville to give the Lancers the 1-0 win on Sept. 9.

Leading the Charge

Kukapa leads the lancers with two goals and three assists for seven points after playing a role in all three of the team’s goals at George Washington. Pierce and Ugorji have added to the offensive effort with five points apiece (2 goals, 1 assist), while Yardley has four points (1 goal, 2 assists) this season. Senior Evan Jones|Midlothian (Midlothian), junior Jared Windt|Haymarket (Battlefield), and freshmen Corcoran and Philip van Berkom|Zetten, The Netherlands (Hendrik Pierson College) each have one goal for two points, while junior Brian Henry|Stafford (Colonial Forge) has one assist.

In the Net

Freshman goalkeeper Carl Carpenter|Charlottesville (St. Anne's Belfield School), who has recorded two wins in net for the Lancers, leads the team with 33 saves in 537+ minutes played. Hegedus, who earned his first career win at GW, has 12 saves and a .632 save percentage in 407+ minutes of action, while freshman Seth Erdman|Hummelstown, Pa. (Lower Dauphin) has four saves in 75+ minutes.

Coaching Staff

Head coach Jon Atkinson is in his eighth season at the helm of the Lancers program. He is assisted by Eduardo de Souza, who was recently appointed associate head coach. Don Herlan is in his third year as a volunteer assistant coach.

Up Next

Following the Lancers home contest against Radford on Oct. 3, the squad will travel to George Mason University for a non-conference tilt beginning at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6.

Longwood Women Shutout Charleston Southern, 2-0

LONGWOOD WINS BIG SOUTH ROAD OPENER AT CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 2-0

Longwood Sophomore Kelsey McDonald

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Longwood University won its third consecutive Big South Conference women’s soccer match Thursday afternoon, and first league game on the road, taking a 2-0 win at Charleston Southern University in Charleston, South Carolina.  Junior Kelsey Pardue|Henrico (Hermitage) scored the game-winning goal in the 18th minute for the Lancers (8-3, 3-0 Big South), assisted by sophomore Kelsey McDonald|Kennett Square, Pa. (Unionville), and freshman Haylea Witz|Chesapeake (Grassfield) added the second goal against the Buccaneers (3-6-1, 1-2 Big South), assisted by Pardue.  Senior keeper Kyra Byron|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) posted the shutout.  Longwood will play again on Saturday, September 29, remaining on the road at Big South member Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina at 1 p.m.
  
“That being our first road test, we feel pretty good about the result,” said 19th-year head coach Todd Dyer ‘93.  “We had a good start in terms of our ball movement and that helped us settle in and get that critical first goal … and the way we defended today, that one was all we needed.  Now it’s time to move on to Coastal.”
  
Longwood took control early at CSU when Pardue, this week’s Big South Conference Attacking Player of the Week, scored her fifth goal of the season at 17:32 with a shot to the upper right corner while assisted by McDonald.  Pardue, who had three goals and two assists in two conference matches last week, contributed her fourth assist this fall when she played a long through ball into the box to Witz who finished successfully at 36:41.  It was the second goal this year for Witz, and also the second assist earlier for McDonald.  Byron took care of the rest for the Lancers, making three saves en route to her fourth shutout this season, and the 11th shutout of her career.
  
Longwood took a 20-10 advantage in shots, and it was 10-3 in attempts on goal, while a 5-1 margin on corner kicks.  Pardue had five shots, one on goal, and freshman Olivia Colella|Herndon (Chantilly) added three shots, two on goal, to lead Longwood.  As mentioned, Byron played the duration in front of the net with three saves and the shutout for the Lancers.
  
Gina Cox had three shots for CSU, while keeper Caitlin Cody played the duration for the Buccaneers with eight saves.
  
Longwood and Charleston Southern were playing for the ninth time in the sport of women’s soccer, and the Lancers now lead the closely-played series, 5-4.

Longwood Men fall to Campbell, 1-0

LONGWOOD DROPS 1-0 DECISION TO CAMPBELL

 

FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University men’s soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to Big South Conference opponent Campbell University (5-2-1, 1-1 BSC), who recorded a last minute goal to seal the victory on Wednesday evening at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. Senior Vinnie Llana|Raleigh, N.C. (Broughton) and freshman Mike Durr|Brandon, Miss. (Brandon) led the Lancers (2-7-1, 2-5-1 BSC) with one shot apiece in the outing. Longwood returns to action on Saturday, September 29 when the squad travels to George Washington University for a 1 p.m. tilt.

“We can take heart from the fact that we worked hard and looked the most organized that we have all season,” said head coach Jon Atkinson. “To concede with an own goal with seconds to go is a tough pill to swallow, but knowing the character of our lads, I know we will bounce back and continue to improve.”

The teams battled back and forth in the middle of the field early in the game, as neither squad was able to get a shot off until the Camels hit the post on a header in the 19^th minute. Campbell posted three more shots in the first half before the game was delayed over 20 minutes due to a Longwood injury in the 38^th minute of the match. When play resumed, Longwood and Campbell traded possessions until time expired, sending the teams into the break knotted at 0-0.

Coming out of halftime, the Lancers had a chance to get on the board in the 55^th minute when a good cross found Durr inside the box for the redirect, but his shot skidded just right of the net. The stalemate continued through most of the second half, but Campbell’s Mitchell Cardenas took control of the ball with just over 30 seconds remaining in regulation and lofted a shot towards the net that hit the crossbar before bouncing off the back of sophomore goalkeeper Paul Hegedus|Ashburn ( Broad Run) and into the goal, securing the slim, 1-0 victory for the Camels.

Campbell outshot Longwood, 9-2, in the outing and forced more corner kicks, 6-2. Wednesday’s match marked the first meeting ever between Longwood and Campbell in the sport of men’s soccer.

Longwood Women Shutout UNC Asheville 4-0

LONGWOOD WINS BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE OPENER PAST UNC ASHEVILLE 4-0

Longwood Junior Kelsey Pardue (courtesy LongwoodLancers.com)

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University won its first-ever Big South Conference women’s soccer match Thursday night, taking a 4-0 home win past the University of North Carolina-Asheville at the Athletics Complex in Farmville.  Junior Kelsey Pardue|Henrico (Hermitage) scored what proved to be the winning goal in the fourth minute for the Lancers (6-3, 1-0 Big South), assisted by senior captain Lindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson), as the hosts scored all four goals during the first 21 minutes against the Bulldogs (2-7, 0-1 Big South).  Pardue added a second goal, and two assists, while sophomore Kelsey McDonald|Kennett Square, Pa. (Unionville) and freshman Alana Mackey|Leesburg (Loudoun County) each added goals as well.  Longwood will play again on Saturday afternoon, September 22, hosting Big South member Presbyterian College at the Athletics Complex in Farmville at 2 p.m.  It will be Joshua Bolt Day as the team will recognize Joshua and the Bolt family during a special pre-game ceremony, dedicating the match against the Blue Hose to Joshua.  Admission is free.
   
“That was our first Big South game ever and we used all of that energy and excitement to get things started off the right way,” said 19th year head coach Todd Dyer ‘93, who earned career coaching win number 199.  “Kelsey Pardue was special tonight and was a real catalyst for us offensively.  The defensive shutout was equally impressive for our team.”
   
Longwood jumped out to the early advantage when Ottavio got free down the right side of the field and played a nice ball into the box to Pardue who finished with her hard shot into the net at 3:19.  Pardue returned the favor when she fed the ball in from the left side to Mackey who beat the keeper left at 11:43.  Pardue added another assist as she played a through-ball to McDonald who shot successfully to the right corner at 18:07.  Pardue completed the scoring outburst when she got free down the middle of the field and beat the keeper one-on-one at 21:00.  It capped an amazing effort by Pardue who was involved in all four goals (two goals, two assists) … she now totals three goals and three assists this season.  It was Ottavio’s second assist, while McDonald scored her first goal, and Mackey earned her first collegiate goal.
   
Longwood took a 10-9 edge in shots, it was 6-6 in attempts on goal, and the Lancers had a 6-4 edge on corner kicks.  Pardue had three shots, each on goal, to lead Longwood.  Senior keeper Kyra Byron|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) played the first 45 minutes with three saves, junior keeper Shelby Hall|Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) played the first 32:44 of the second half with three saves, and redshirt-sophomore Dana Wallace|Charlottesville (Home Schooled) played the final 12:16 as the three combined for the Lancers’ shutout.  It was the first collegiate action in front of the net for Wallace.
  
Kaitlyn Eckert had three shots to lead UNC Asheville, while keeper Heather Muller played the duration for the Bulldogs with two saves.  Longwood and UNC Asheville were playing for just the third time in the sport of women’s soccer, and the Lancers now lead the series, 3-0.

Little Lancers Kids Club Soccer Clinic
The Little Lancers Kids Club will be conducting a free soccer clinic hosted by the women’s soccer team after Saturday’s match against Presbyterian.  The clinic will last approximately 30-45 minutes with free food and drink available after the clinic, as well as an autograph session with Elwood and the Lancers.  This event is open to members and non-members who are interested in gaining more information about the Little Lancers Kids Club.

Longwood Lancers Men Fall to Spiders 2-1

LONGWOOD FALLS TO RICHMOND, 2-1

 

Longwood University men's soccer team (courtesy of Longwood.edu)

 

 

RICHMOND, Va. -- The Longwood University men’s soccer team fell, 2-1, to the University of Richmond (2-5) on Tuesday evening in Richmond, Va. Senior Evan Jones| Midlothian (Midlothian) scored his first goal of the season to lead the Lancers (2-6). Longwood returns to action on Saturday, September 22, when it hosts Big South Conference opponent Gardner-Webb University at 7 p.m.

“Statistics can paint part of the story, but all in all, the main focal point in the game is getting the result, and scoring is an art in itself,” said head coach Jon Atkinson. ”We had some marvelous opportunities, but failed on many and have to hold our hands up and say we didn’t do enough to win it. Richmond did a good job of getting their noses in front and putting up stiff resistance, which was something we had hoped to avoid. Thankfully, we have a great opportunity to bounce back with a conference game this Saturday against Gardner-Webb.”

In the seventh minute of play, Richmond jumped out to an early lead, as Parker Patterson fed a pass to the right side of the field for Houston Oldham, who fired a shot towards the upper left corner of the net to give the Spiders a 1-0 lead.

The Lancers offense controlled possession of the ball for much of the half, outshooting Richmond, 10-6, in the first 45 minutes, but could not move the net before Richmond scored its second goal of the night and the eventual game-winner in the 37^th minute. Mitch Reavis sent a cross to Houston, who was set up in front of the net for the header on goal.

The Lancers would not go quietly and were able to get on the board less than 40 seconds later, as Jones crashed the ball before it could be fully cleared by the Liberty defense and sent a hard shot to the back post from about six yards out, making it a 2-1 game headed into the break.

Coming out of halftime, the teams battled through 45 minutes of scoreless action. Neither squad was able to convert on an opportunity in the second half, allowing Richmond to hold on to take the slim, 2-1 margin of victory.   

Junior Brian Henry| Stafford (Colonial Forge) led the Lancers with five shots in the outing, while sophomore Anthony Ugorji|Washington, D.C. (Archbishop Carroll) added three shots of his own. Seniors Devin Pierce|Virginia Beach (Ocean Lakes) and Adel Sarras|Burke (Annandale), along with junior Jared Windt|Haymarket (Battlefield) tallied two shots apiece, while Jones and Rhys Cairns|Washington, England (St. Roberts of Newminster RC School) notched one each on the night. Oldham had a team-high five shots for the Spiders.

Freshmen Carl Carpenter|Charlottesville (St. Anne’s Belfield) and Seth Erdman|Hummelstown, Pa. (Lower Dauphin) split time in the net for the Lancers. Carpenter, who started the game, made three saves in 48+ minutes of action, while Erdman came off the bench to make two saves in the last 41+ minutes of the game.

Longwood outshot Richmond, 18-11, in the outing, and had three corner kick opportunities compared to two for the Spiders. Tuesday’s contest marked the 13^th meeting between the Lancers and the Spiders in the sports of men’s soccer. Longwood holds a 6-5-2 advantage in the all-time series.

Longwood Soccer Recap

Courtesy of LongwoodLancers.com

ON THE PITCH: WEEK 4, LONGWOOD 2-5

FARMVILLE, Va. -- The Longwood University men’s soccer team split a pair of Big South Conference matches last week. The Lancers defeated VMI, 3-2, on September 12 before falling to High Point University, 5-1, on Sept. 15. The squad returns to action on Tuesday, Sept. 18 when it travels to the University of Richmond for a 7:30 p.m. tilt.

Recapping VMI

Longwood controlled the pace of play early, tallying eight shots in the first 45 minutes while not allowing VMI to take any. Neither squad was able to move the net in the first period, but both squads went on the attack coming out of the break, combining for all five of the game's goals in the second half.

VMI broke the match open in the 47th minute on a header. After more than 27 minutes of scoreless action, junior Jared Windt|Haymarket (Battlefield) converted on a penalty kick for the Lancers after VMI was issued a yellow card in the 74th to tie the game. The Lancers took their first lead of the night less than 30 seconds later, as sophomore Jonathan Kukapa|Leesburg (Clarksburg Md.) made a pass from the left side of the box that found freshman Sam Yardley|Fairfax Station (Robinson) near the right post for the header on goal.

In the 79th minute, the Keydets retaliated to tie the score for the second time in the match, but the Lancers would score what would become the winning goal in the 83rd minute of play when sophomore Anthony Ugorji|Washington, D.C. (Archbishop Carroll) dribbled to the end line on a breakaway and sent a cross in front of the net to Kukapa, who fired into the right side of the net to give Longwood the 3-2 victory. Wednesday's outing marked the 13th meeting between the Lancers and the Keydets in the sport of men's soccer. Longwood now leads the all-time series, 10-3.

Head Coach John Atkinson on VMI

“This game had it all, and fortunately for us, it had a happy ending in what was a must-win game. I give credit to VMI, who showed true grit throughout and made a good run of it in the second half, as the game opened up. I thought we showed our best and worst tonight, playing some good, composed soccer, and only missed a goal for all the good work. As often happens in this game, just as you are feeling in control, you get hit with a sucker punch. It took a dramatic final 20 minutes to pull this result out of the bag.

“We had some excellent contributions from the starters and from our bench to make this a true team performance.”

Recapping High Point

The squads battled back and forth through over 18 minutes of scoreless action until Yadley dribbled down the left side and dished a cross to Ugorji near the right post for the shot and goal, putting the Lancers up, 1-0.

High Point retaliated with two goals before the first half expired to take a slim, 2-1 lead that they would carry into the break. The Panthers then added three goals in the second half to seal the victory.

Five different Lancers tallied one shot apiece in the outing. Ugorji, Windt, senior Devin Pierce|Virginia Beach (Ocean Lakes), sophomore Daena Bodie|Guernsey, England (St. Sampson's Secondary) and freshman Christian Keilty|Spotsylvania (Riverbend) each registered a shot on the night. The match marked the 11th meeting between the Lancers and the Panthers. The all-time series is now tied, 5-5-1.

Head Coach Jon Atkinson on High Point

“This wasn't our best day at the office. After a solid start, our play deteriorated and didn't come to terms with the extra pace of play on a faster surface. I give credit to High Point. They have plenty of talent and will do well this year. I think our players will be disappointed with some of their decision making out there and will have to be corrected in time for Richmond.”

Big South Conference Attacking Player of the Week

Pierce was recognized as the Big South Conference Attacking Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 11. This honor marks the first-ever Big South men's soccer Player of the Week selection for Longwood. Pierce posted two goals to lead Longwood to a 1-1 record last week, including its first-ever Big South men's soccer victory.  After scoring the team's lone goal against UNC Greensboro on September 4, Pierce notched the game-winner on a penalty kick at UNC Asheville to give the Lancers the 1-0 win on September 9.

Lancers Are Live on the Big South Network

Longwood will be video streaming a select number of its home contests this year live on the Big South Network, including three men’s soccer matches. The first broadcast will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 26 against Campbell at 7 p.m. The Big South Network is the official video provider for all Big South Conference games. Each member institution is required to produce broadcasts for home events to be streamed via the conference network. A paid subscription is required to view live events, with both single-game and season passes available. You can watch all of the Lancers' webcasts and see a schedule of upcoming events by visiting www.longwoodlancers.com or www.bigsouthsports.com.

Leading the Charge

Pierce leads the Lancers with two goals for four points on a team-high 13 shots. Kukapa has three points, after registering the game-winning goal along with an assist against VMI. Ugorji and Yardley also have three points apiece so far this season. Windt and freshman Philip van Berkom|Zetten, The Netherlands (Hendrik Pierson College) have added to the offensive effort with one goal for two points each, while junior Brian Henry|Stafford (Colonial Forge) has one point after recording the assist on van Berkom’s goal.

In the Net

Carpenter leads the Lancers in the net with 30 saves in 489+ minutes played. Sophomore Paul Hegedus|Ashburn (Broad Run), who has two starts on the season thus far, has four saves in 117+ minutes of action, while freshman Seth Erdman|Hummelstown, Pa. (Lower Dauphin) has two saves in 34+ minutes.

Statistical Summary

As a team, the Lancers are ranked 34^th in the nation with an average of 5.14 saves per game. Carpenter is individually ranked 24^th in the nation with 32 total saves and an average of 5.33 saves per game.

Coaching Staff

Head coach Jon Atkinson is in his eighth season at the helm of the Lancers program. He is assisted by Eduardo de Souza, who was recently appointed associate head coach. Don Herlan is in his third year as a volunteer assistant coach.

Up Next

The Lancers will travel to Richmond on Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. before hosting league opponent Gardner-Webb on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 7:00 p.m.