BUIES CREEK, N.C. -- Longwood University dropped a disappointing 3-1 women's soccer road decision at Campbell University of the Atlantic Sun Conference Friday night in Buies Creek, North Carolina. The Fighting Camels (8-10-1) scored all three of their goals against the Lancers (10-7) during the first period. Longwood returns to action on Wednesday, October 27, on the road again at Eastern Kentucky University of the Ohio Valley Conference in Richmond, Kentucky beginning at 3 p.m.
Longwood allowed an early goal in the fifth minute at Campbell when Annabelle Gibney took a turnover by the Lancers and scored from the top of the box at 4:11. The Fighting Camels added a second goal at 33:48 as Pirjo Leppikangas tallied from just outside the box with assists from both Gibney and Lauren Kuklenski. CU made it 3-0 at the intermission with a goal in the 41st minute by Caitlin Schneider at 40:03 and assisted by Leppikangas.
Longwood controlled the action throughout the second period, out-shooting Campbell 15-3, but could only manage one goal. Senior
Jessica Varela|Midlothian (Clover Hill) scored it in the 85th minute as her unassisted shot from the top of the box hit off the crossbar before dropping into the net to allow the Lancers to avoid the shutout. It was Varela's third goal this season.
“We weren't prepared to play in the first half and I take responsibility for that,” said 17th-year head coach
Todd Dyer '93. “We lacked energy and our defending put us in a big hole early in the game. We were a totally different team in the second half and we earned a goal to show for it, however, if you go down like we did and allow a team to sit back and defend a lead, it becomes a very tall mountain to climb.”
Longwood had an 18-8 advantage in shots, including 11-6 in attempts on-goal, and took a 7-2 edge on corner kicks as well. Graduate keeper
Marcia Biddle|Woodbridge (Gar-Field) played the first half (45:00) in front of the net for the Lancers with one save and allowed the three goals, while sophomore
Kyra Byron|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) played the second half (45:00) with two saves. Ryann Torrero played the first 81:31 for Campbell with six saves and no goals allowed, while Anna Ditommaso played the final 8:29 with two saves and allowed the goal. The Fighting Camels had two team saves as well.
It was the seventh meeting between the two schools in the sport of women's soccer as Campbell continues to lead the series at 4-2-1. Longwood had entered the contest with two-straight wins and six wins in the last eight matches. The Lancers are now 2-6 in road matches this season, though an impressive 8-1 at home, including eight-straight wins at the Athletics Complex.
