11.11.2011

Box Score

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - The Longwood University men's soccer team tied Houston Baptist University 1-1 in double overtime in the Atlantic Soccer Conference (ASC) semifinals and advanced to the championship match 4-2 on penalty kicks on Friday evening in Garden City, New York. Freshman Zach Crandall|Lorton (South County) scored in the 66th minute for the Lancers (11-6-2), but Houston Baptist (3-10-3) answered with a goal in the 90th minute to force overtime. Both squads made their first two penalty kicks, but the Huskies missed their next two before sophomore Brian Henry|Stafford (Colonial Forge) made the decisive kick. Longwood returns to action on Sunday, November 13, at 12 p.m., against host Adelphi University in the ASC championship match in Garden City, New York.

The Lancers struggled to put shots on target in the first half, taking six shots, but none on goal. Senior Joel Helmick|Springfield (W.T. Woodson) made a pair of saves in the first half as the teams were tied 0-0 at halftime. Longwood struck just over 20 minutes into the second period when Crandall took a pass from senior Zack Mahon|San Antonio, Texas (William Howard Taft) and rifled a shot into the top-right corner at 65:04. The Lancers maintained the lead until Mark Gendi scored on a header on a loose ball in the box at 89:27. HBU outshot Longwood 3-2 in the two overtime periods, but neither team could convert and the match ended with a penalty kick shootout to advance to the championship match.

Mahon went first for Longwood and scored, but his shot was matched by HBU's Richard Ojeda, and the teams were tied after the first round. Junior Devin Pierce|Virginia Beach (Ocean Lakes) made the second shot, but Gendi scored as well and the teams were tied after two rounds. Sophomore Nick Surkamp|Manassas (Osbourn Park) went third and made his kick, while the Huskies' Kyle Herbison could not connect in the third round. Henry nailed his kick to allow the Lancers to advance 4-2 on penalty kicks.

“We made heavy weather of this game and got caught at the end, due in large part to our inability to finish our chances and put the game away in regulation,” said head coach Jon Atkinson. “Without a game in a while, we were a little rusty, but generated some good chances and will have to do more come Sunday. I'm impressed with how we held our nerve in overtime, and our clinical finishing in penalty kicks. We'll have to roll on Sunday.”

Longwood outshot Houston Baptist 19-12 and had a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks. Mahon paced the Lancers with five shots, while Surkamp attempted four shots and Crandall had three shots. Helmick made six saves and allowed one goal in 110:00 in goal. HBU was led by four players with two shots each. Kevin Suarez made two saves while playing the duration in goal for the Huskies.