November 14, 2008

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University men's soccer team (8-8-3) defeated conference foe Houston Baptist on a rainy Friday night in penalty kicks. The game ended 1-1 after double overtime, sending the game into penalty kicks, where the Lancers out scored the Huskies 4-2 in the first five penalty kicks. Senior Adam Kotchin/North Hanover, N.J. (The Hun School of Princeton) scored the game winning penalty kick for the Lancers. Longwood takes on #1 seeded Adelphi on Sunday, November 16 at 12 p.m. for the championship.
   
A fired up Lancers side took an early 1-0 lead, scoring in the sixth minute of play with a beautiful goal from freshman Zack Mahon/San Antonio, Texas (William Howard Taft). Mahon's goal came after a nice feed from junior Chenor Diallo/Alexandria (Mount Vernon) from the six-yard box, which Mahon was able to one-time into the near post, side netting. The Lancers continued to own the game in the remainder of the first half, coming close to scoring on several occasions. Longwood outshot Houston Baptist 6-2 in the first half, while also having a 5-1 advantage in corners.
   
The Lancers were just as dominate in the second half, continuing to keep the Huskies bunkered in their half of the field for the majority of the half. Houston Baptist did manage to get on the board in the 79th minute, after a miscue by the Lancers defense caused the ball to slip into the net. Longwood almost snuck in the game winner in the final 20 seconds of the game on a quickly taken corner kick, but Houston Baptist were able to clear the ball.
   
The two teams battled through two rain soaked overtime periods, with neither side able to come out with a result. The game then went to a shootout with each side choosing their best 10 shooters on the field to take penalty kicks. It would only take four shooters to give the Lancers the victory, after freshman goalkeeper Joel Helmick/Springfield (W.T. Woodson) came up with saves on the first two Houston Baptist kickers. Diallo, Brian Germain/McLean (Langley), Shane Johnson/Ashurn (Broad Run) and Kotchin were the four shooters for the Lancers who gave the team the victory.
   
Helmick ended the game with four saves, including a penalty kick in the second half of action.