October 2, 2010

Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University men's soccer team tied UNC Asheville 1-1 in double overtime on Saturday evening at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. Junior Zack Mahon | San Antonio, Texas (William Howard Taft) scored in the 10th minute for the Lancers (0-8-2). Longwood returns to action on Tuesday, October 5, when it hosts Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. Admission is free.

“We had our opportunities tonight,” said sixth-year head coach Jon Atkinson. “We just need to put two halves of Longwood soccer together to get out of this hole. We were aware of the type of soccer UNC Asheville would play, and we fought it off for most of the night. Unfortunately, we had a mental block (on the corner) and let them back in the game. We will work really hard to get a win to get the season rolling.”

Longwood jumped out to the early lead in the 10th minute when Mahon made a move to get free in the box and sent a shot over the diving goalkeeper. Freshman Nick Surkamp | Manassas (Osbourn Park) created space along the end line and worked his way to a shot that ricocheted off the post in the upper-right corner in the 20th minute. The Lancers outshot the Bulldogs (2-6-1) 10-6 in the first period, with Lassi Hurskainen recording three saves for UNCA.

The Lancers had an opportunity to extend the lead early in the second half when Mahon sent a shot off the post. Sophomore Devin Pierce | Virginia Beach (Ocean Lakes) had a shot blocked by a UNCA defender on the goal line in the 59th minute. In the 78th minute, senior Harvey Headley | Coventry, England (Stoke Park) had a shot saved by Hurskainen. UNC Asheville tied the match in the 84th minute when Connor Holzinger sent a corner kick into the box and Jake Sides collected it in front of the net and shot past junior goalkeeper Joel Helmick | Springfield (W.T. Woodson).

Longwood got one shot off in the first overtime, a shot from Surkamp that sailed high in the 91st minute. UNCA outshot Longwood 2-1 in the first overtime and 2-0 in the second overtime.

Helmick made one save and allowed one goal in 110 minutes in goal. Surkamp led Longwood offensively with seven shots, while Mahon and sophomore Vinnie Llana | Raleigh, N.C. (Broughton) each had three shots.

Hurskainen made nine saves for the Bulldogs. Bobby Castro led UNCA with three shots, while four other players had two shots.

Longwood outshot UNCA 20-16 while the Bulldogs had a 10-6 advantage in corner kicks.