October 22, 2008

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University dropped a disappointing 2-1 women's soccer overtime decision to visiting Francis Marion University Wednesday night at the Athletics Complex in Farmville.  The Patriots scored the game-winning goal with just 15-seconds left in the second overtime period while improving their record to 3-12-1; the Lancers record is now 8-6-2.  Longwood is scheduled to play again on Saturday, October 25, at United Soccer Conference opponent Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah beginning at 3 p.m..
   
Longwood led 1-0 at the intermission after redshirt-junior Ashlee McConnell/Carlisle, Pa. (Carlisle) scored early at 18:02, placing her shot from the box to the far post past the keeper.  Neither team had any real scoring opportunities the remainder of the period, though the Lancers did take the only three shots after the opening goal.  Francis Marion's back-up keeper, Emily Brandenburg, kept her team in the match with five stops during the first 25-plus minutes of the second half before teammate Angela Salem scored at 76:38 to tie the match at 1-1.  The Patriots managed another shot-on-goal down the stretch that was saved by redshirt-sophomore keeper Marcia Biddle/Woodbridge (Gar-Field) to send the contest to overtime.
   
The two teams battled scoreless through the first 10-minute period as Longwood took the only shot by either team that was again stopped by Brandenburg who had entered the game at 6:14 after an injury to the starting keeper.  In the second extra period, Brandenburg saved another attempt by the hosts, while yet another shot-on-goal by the Lancers hit the post.  FMU's Kiley Williams had a couple of attempts go high before she collected a loose ball in front of the net following another attempt and squeezed the ball across the line for the game-winner just seconds ahead of the final horn.
   
Longwood took a 17-12 advantage in shots, including 9-6 in attempts on-goal, while Francis Marion had a 6-3 edge in corner kicks.  Biddle played the duration in front of the net for the Lancers with four saves.  Casey Durham played the first 6:14 in goal for the Patriots before Brandenburg finished the final 103:31 with eight saves.  FMU now leads the series against LU at 5-1 since first playing in 1999.