August 29, 2008

BOX SCORE

CONWAY, S.C. - The Longwood University men's soccer team dropped its season opener to Niagara 4-3 on Friday afternoon in Conway, S.C., as part of the Coastal Carolina University/Adidas Classic. The Lancers, who fall to 0-1, received goals from senior Braden McPherson/Virginia Beach (Kellam), junior Martin Vickerton/Derbyshire, England?(Kirk Hallam Technical College), and Harvey Headley/Coventry, England (Stoke Park). Longwood returns to action on Saturday, August 30 taking on host Coastal Carolina at 7 p.m. The game will be video streamed on BigSouthSports.com.
   
McPherson got things started, putting Longwood up 1-0 in the 14:21 mark, striking a driven ball at the Niagara keeper causing him to bobble it threw his hands. The Purple Eagles bounced back two minutes later with a goal from Angelo Beatrice in the 17th minute of action.
   
The Lancers regained the lead in the 22nd minute, courtesy of the Thornton who helped move the team up field after a failed Niagara corner kick. Moments later Longwood found itself under pressure from Niagara who found the back of the net in the 34th minute to tie things 2-2.
   
Both teams would battle back-and-forth for the remainder of the first half, but with neither able to pull ahead of the other.
  
"We're a little disappointed," said head coach Jon Atkinson. "The game started brightly for us, we had great possession and a couple half chances, but they hit us with a shocker just as we found our rhythm."
   
The second half started similarly to the first, with the Lancers jumping out in front early, this time with a goal from Vickerton. Vickerton collected his first goal of the season in the 55th minute, after a Niagara foul set up a 15-yard free kick, which Vickerton buried in the net.
   
The Purple Eagles would not back down, scoring two unanswered goals just minutes apart. The first Niagara goal came from Carl Haworth in the 67:40 mark, tying the game 3-3. Just two minutes later Matt Durand would go onto score his second goal of the game, which also proved to be the game winner.
   
Longwood had a chance to tie things up in the 85th minute, earning three back-to-back corner kicks, but were unable to convert.
   
“The score makes things look worse than they are,” said Atkinson. “We played very good soccer and only had four let downs, but those let downs cost us. We were in control of the game for 90 minutes and just had two minute lapses.”
   
Freshman Joel Helmick/Springfield (W.T. Woodson) played all 90 minutes in goal for the Lancers, facing 14 shots and making five saves. John Fiutowski received the complete game win for Niagara, facing 14 shots and making four saves.