November 2, 2008

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University men's soccer team dropped its first Atlantic Soccer Conference (ASC) match of the season, falling to Adelphi 2-1 in a tightly contest match on Sunday afternoon at the Athletics Complex. Prior to the start of the game, the Lancers honored four departing seniors for their hard work and determination over their respective careers at Longwood. Longwood returns to the field on November 5, traveling to Washington, D.C. for an ASC game against Howard. The game is set to kickoff at 1 p.m.
   
The first half of action was a battle of wills with both teams keeping each other in check, with Adelphi having a slight advantage in shots (8-6), while both teams were dead even in corners with two a piece. Freshman goalkeeper Joel Helmick/Springfield (W.T. Woodson) came up with four huge saves in the first half, while finishing off the game with seven total.
   
Adelphi jumped on the board first, taking the 1-0 lead in the 13th minute. Longwood nearly got one back seconds later off a shot from junior Chenor Diallo/Alexandria (Mount Vernon) take slipped just wide of the net. Senior Braden McPherson/Virginia Beach (Kellam) almost buried one of his own in the 24th minute, firing a rocket shot over the goal. Despite the Lancers chances, the Panthers would extend their lead to two goals in the 31st minute.
   
The second half belonged to the Lancers, who kept the Panthers trapped in their end of the field for the first portion of the half. Longwood almost cut the Adelphi lead to one in the 54th minute after a corner kick taken by junior Brian Germain/McLean (Langley) lingered around the box, finding the feet of two Lancers. The Lancers would nearly capitalize on another corner taken 10 minutes later, but the Adelphi keeper would come up with a crucial save. The Panthers keeper would not be so lucky in the 65th minute however, as a free kick taken by junior Martin Vickerton/Derbyshire, England (Kirk Hallam Technical College) from 30-yards out sailed right past him and into the goal.
   
Longwood almost sent the game into overtime with seconds remaining on the clock with a last minute run from freshman Kevin Chico/Harrisonburg (Eastern Mennonite). Chico gathered the ball from one of his teammates, taking down the left side past, running past the Panther midfield and part of the defense. Despite the run, Chico was unable to blaze past the final Adelphi defender, having the ball intercepted.