October 19, 2010

Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University men's soccer team defeated the United States Naval Academy 2-1 on Tuesday evening at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. The Lancers (2-9-3) used a pair of goals, scored less than 90 seconds apart, from senior Harvey Headley | Coventry, England (Stoke Park) to rally from a one goal deficit with 16 minutes left against the Midshipmen (6-3-3). Longwood returns to action on Saturday, October 23, when it hosts the New Jersey Institute of Technology of the Atlantic Soccer Conference at the Athletics Complex in Farmville at 2 p.m.. The current team will welcome former student-athletes for a reunion, where the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference championship team from 2000 will be recognized. Admission is free.

“It was a great result, born from hard work, discipline, quality finishing from Harvey and a little bit of luck,” said sixth-year head coach Jon Atkinson. “Navy is a good, disciplined team, and they put us on the rack several times tonight. It was a complete team effort where everyone played their part. We were put in sticky situations a few times, but we played until the final whistle. Harvey and junior goalkeeper Joel Helmick | Springfield (W.T. Woodson) had stellar outings. We have to bring this same intensity for NJIT on Saturday.”

Neither team could score in the first half, but both teams had several opportunities. Headley had a shot in the ninth minute that was blocked. Helmick made four saves in the first half, including one on a header attempt by Sam Miller in the 19th minute. Sophomore Adel Sarras | Burke (Annandale) came off the bench in the 26th minute and went on the offensive, sending a pair of shots high. Navy outshot Longwood 6-4 in the first half.

In the second period, the Midshipmen struck first in the 57th minute after the Lancers failed to clear a corner kick, sending the ball to the middle of the box where David Jackson struck the ball below a diving Helmick to put Navy ahead 1-0. Headley answered in the 72nd minute when he took a pass from junior Zack Mahon | San Antonio, Texas (William Howard Taft) and scored from 20 yards out. Headley added a second goal just 87 seconds later, this time taking a pass from freshman Nick Surkamp | Manassas (Osbourn Park) and scoring from 10 yards out. The Lancers turned away five shots in the final 16 minutes. In the 89th minute, Helmick came up with a diving save after a header attempt by Miller. Navy's Alex Wilson came up with the rebound but his shot was blocked inside the six-yard box as Helmick was still on the ground after the diving save and unable to get back in the play. The Lancers held on for the 2-1 win after a shot in the final minute was blocked.

Navy outshot Longwood 15-8 and had a 9-0 advantage in corner kicks. Headley led Longwood offensively with two goals on three shots while Helmick made six saves. The Midshipmen were led offensively by Jackson with one goal on three shots. Miller added five shots with four shots on goal. Aaron Dupere made two saves in 90 minutes in goal.