October 25, 2011

Box Score

HIGH POINT, N.C. - The Longwood University men's soccer team defeated High Point University of the Big South Conference 2-1 on Tuesday evening in High Point, North Carolina. Junior Niels van Pelt|Den Haag, Netherlands (Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet) scored in the 40th minute before senior Zack Mahon|San Antonio, Texas (William Howard Taft) scored the eventual match-winner in the 77th minute for the Lancers (10-6-1) against the Panthers (5-9-2). High Point scored one goal in the 83rd minute, but Longwood held on for the victory. The program has reached 10 wins for the first time since 2002 and posted the best record since that season when it went 12-6-1. The Lancers return to action on Friday, October 28, when they host Atlantic Soccer Conference foe Houston Baptist University at 7 p.m. at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. The program's four seniors will be recognized prior to the match on Senior Night.

Longwood had several opportunities early in the first half, but a header by Mahon was stopped by the High Point goalkeeper in the 17th minute. The HPU keeper made another save on a shot by sophomore Nick Surkamp|Manassas (Osbourn Park) in the 35th minute. The Lancers scored at 39:39 when van Pelt took a pass from senior Shane Johnson|Ashburn (Broad Run) and curled a shot into the upper-right corner from 20-yards out. Longwood added an insurance goal, the eventual match-winner, at 76:09 when Mahon scored off a pass from freshman Zach Crandall|Lorton (South County). High Point cut the lead to 2-1 at 82:57 with a goal by Alex Martinez, but the Lancers' defense held firm the rest of the match.

“The team spirit and comaraderie got us through this difficult fixture, and I couldn't be happier for the boys,” said head coach Jon Atkinson. “I thought we just edged the clearer chances in what was a high contested game. The game could have turned as High Point grabbed a late goal and piled it on in the dying minutes, but credit to the boys. They dug deep and have put together a very respectable season thus far, with the prospect of more to follow. We must get our feet back on the ground as we have an important conference game on Friday, back on our home turf.”

High Point outshot the Lancers 15-9 and had a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks, while Longwood had a 6-3 edge in shots on goal. Surkamp led the Lancers with three shots, including two shots on goal, while Mahon and senior Chris Saul|Pasadena, Md. (Chesapeake) added two shots. Senior goalkeeper Joel Helmick|Springfield (W.T. Woodson) made two saves while playing all 90 minutes. Three HPU players attempted three shots, while Shawn Sloan had two shots on goal. Michael Chesler made four saves while playing the duration in goal.