August 31, 2003

BOX SCORE

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- The Longwood University men’s soccer team suffered its first loss of the season to 17th-ranked Tusculum 5-1 today at the Greene Coach Classic at Pioneer Field. 

Tusculum College junior forward Paul Hopkins was credited for the first three goals of the match,  scoring the first goal just 6:39 in, taking a pass from junior Jonathan Gordon.  His second came off a penalty kick and junior midfielder Angel Mero assisted on his third.  Longwood made it a 3-1 match with just over a minute to play in the opening period when junior midfielder Stuart Bertsch (Norfolk, Va./Maury) converted a penalty kick past Pioneer keeper J.P. Swaminathan. 

In the second half, Tusculum’s Andre Nesfield  found the back of the net for the second time this season at the 55:57 mark and Hopkins added his fourth in the 73rd minute.  Longwood managed to outshoot Tusculum 18-13, with Berstch and Henrik Anerskov (Denmark/Rungstead Gymnasium) credited with one each.   Freshman keeper Justin Brock (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) made five saves for the Lancers.  The match proved to be a physical one, as the teams had a combined 42 fouls and seven yellow cards.

Longwood drops to 1-1 on the season, while Tusculum remains undefeated at 2-0.  The Lancers take on NCAA Division I opponent Elon Wednesday at 7 pm on Lancer Field.