November 3, 2009

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University men's soccer team fell to Clemson University of the Atlantic Coast Conference 3-1 on Tuesday afternoon at the Athletics Complex in Farmville on Senior Day. Five seniors were recognized, including Martin Vickerton/Derbyshire, England (Kirk Hallam CTC), who scored the lone goal for Longwood. The Lancers return to action on Friday, November 13, when they host Houston Baptist University in the Atlantic Soccer Conference Tournament semifinals at 6 p.m. at the Athletics Complex.

The first half was evenly played with both teams struggling to find an offensive rhythm. Each squad attempted four shots while Clemson (5-10-1) had a 3-2 edge in corner kicks.

The Tigers struck first in the second half when Connor Barbaree took a penalty kick and scored on the right side of the goal as Longwood goalkeeper Joel Helmick/Springfield (W.T. Woodson) dove the other direction. Nathan Thornton scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 64th minute as he beat the goalkeeper to the far post from 20 yards out on the left side. Longwood (5-11-2) pulled within one goal at 2-1 after Harvey Headley/Coventry, England (Stoke Park) threaded the needle to Vickerton who sent the ball under the goalkeeper. Clemson added an insurance goal in the 86th minute to make the final score 3-1.

“I thought it was a fairly even contest,”?said Longwood head coach Jon Atkinson. “Clemson took chances and converted. I'm proud of our performance and it just goes to show that if we execute, we can hang with anyone. I'm proud of our seniors. They have carried the torch for us for four years and it was a job well done.”

The other seniors recognized were Chernor Diallo/Alexandria (Mount Vernon), Marcus Dixon/Gloucester (Gloucester), Brian Germain/McLean (Langley) and Giovanni Peralta/Lorton (Robert E. Lee).

Longwood was led by Vickerton who had three shots and one goal. Germain added two shots while six other players had one shot. Helmick had four saves in 90 minutes in goal.

Clemson was led by Thornton and Barbaree who each had two shots, both on goal. J.D. Spearman made one save in goal for the Tigers.

Longwood outshot Clemson 11-10 and had a 6-5 edge in corner kicks.