September 1, 2004

BOX SCORE

LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Liberty University scored two second-half goals to earn a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Longwood University in men’s soccer this afternoon in Lynchburg, Va. The Lancers, who were playing their first game of the season, got both of their goals from junior transfer Leon Malca/Hertzeliya, Israel (Mercer C.C.-N.J.).  Longwood (0-1) will be back in action this Friday when they travel to Fairfax for a match against George Mason.

The Flames (1-0) took the early 1-0 lead when senior David Guinn got behind the Lancers’ defense and found the back of the net from 15 yards out at the 23:15 minute mark of the first half. Longwood responded quickly, scoring 43 seconds later when Malca scored off a corner kick to knot the game at 1-1.

The Lancers took the lead into halftime when Malca scored his second goal in the 31st minute to give Longwood the 2-1 advantage. Freshman Todd Runey/Midlothian, Va. (Collegiate) stole the ball from a Liberty defender inside the box and found Malca who chipped a shot past Flame goalkeeper Kevin Mahan.

After playing a tight beginning of the second half, the Flames were able to even the score at the 71:31 mark when junior Osei Telesford cracked a shot from just outside the left side of the box that got past freshman goalkeeper Matt VanOekel/Chesapeake, Va. (Great Bridge).

Liberty capped off the come-from-behind rally when freshman Kyle Cupid broke into the box and rebounded his own shot past VanOekel at the 74:50 mark.

For the match, Liberty had 19 shots, including 12 on goal, while the Lancers finished with nine shots, four that were on goal.  VanOekel finished his first collegiate game with nine saves.