October 21, 2008

BOX SCORE

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- The Longwood University men's soccer team played its heart out on Tuesday night while battling the University of Virginia, the 14th-ranked team in the country and current Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) leader, to a 2-2 tie (2OT).  The Lancers are now 6-5-2 on the season, while the Cavaliers go to 8-3-1.  Longwood received its equalizing goal in a team effort, with senior Nate Van Arsdale/Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) getting credit for the goal, the first of his career.
   
The first half was a battle of wills with both teams keeping each other in check. The Lancers had a 2-0 advantage in first-half corners, while Virginia led the half in shots 4-3.  Freshman Zach Mahon/San Antonio, Texas (William Howard Taft) nearly put the Lancers on the board in the fourth minute, firing a shot at the Cavaliers' keeper but had it saved.  Longwood came close to getting another one right before the end of the half, with junior Brian Germain/McLean (Langley) taking a half chance in the 44th minute, shooting it high.
   
Virginia came out in the second half knocking on Longwood's door, taking a couple of quick shots within the first 10 minutes.  The pressure paid off for the Cavaliers, putting the Lancers in a 1-0 hole in the 56th minute, after a header off a corner kick made its way into goal.  Virginia would get a second goal just four minutes later to take a 2-0 lead.
   
Longwood would respond with two dangerous chances following the second Virginia goal, with junior Martin Vickerton/Derbyshire, England (Kirk Hallam Technical College) taking a corner kick and then following it up with a shot on goal.  The next 18 minutes would be spent with the Lancers flipping the table on the Cavaliers and applying a high pressure system that rattled the UVA defense.  The pressure would pay off in the 79th minute with a goal from Germain.  The 5-9 midfielder began the play by heading the ball off the crossbar and then collecting his own rebound in the box.  The goal was Germain's fourth of the season and in as many games as well.
   
Longwood continued to be the dominant team, netting its equalizer four minutes later from Van Arsdale.  The situation all began with Germain taking a corner kick that found freshman Shane Johnson/Ashburn (Broad Run), who flicked the ball onto Van Arsdale.  Van Arsdale came in from eight-yards out to head the ball into the top corner, sending it past the Virginia keeper for his first goal of the season.
   
“Nate's goal was beautiful,” said head coach Jon Atkinson.  “It was a great combination play from Trey Messiah/Herndon (Westfield), Shane, Brian and Nate. Nate came flying in and got his head on the ball, sending a wonderful ball into the net.”
   
Longwood nearly netted the game-winner in the 86th minute after earning a corner kick, but was unable to put it in goal.
   
The first overtime period saw Virginia have a 3-1 shot advantage, but the Lancers remained composed, keeping the Cavaliers from having any dangerous chances.  The second overtime period was very similar to the first, with neither team having quality chances.

The shot count ended in Virginia's favor, 14-9, while the Cavaliers also ended with a 6-5 advantage in corners. 
   
Freshman keeper Joel Helmick/Springfield (W.T. Woodson) ended the game with four saves, after playing all 110 minutes in between the pipes.  
   
“We deserve the draw," added Atkinson.  "We were able to rattle them in the second half, by speeding up play. We took very quick and long throw-ins in an effort to catch them off guard, which we were able to do. We played hard and united tonight and pulled out quite possibly the biggest result in the program's history.”