September 3, 2011

Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University men's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to the visiting University of North Florida of the Atlantic Sun Conference on Saturday evening at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. The Ospreys (1-1) scored the only goal of the closely contested match in the 88th minute against the Lancers (1-2). Longwood returns to action on Saturday, September 10, when it hosts James Madison University of the Colonial Athletic Association at 2:30 p.m. at the Athletics Complex in Farmville.

Longwood pressured the North Florida defense in the second half. The Lancers had several scoring opportunities early in the second period, the first when sophomore Jared Windt|Haymarket (Battlefield) ripped a shot off a corner kick that sailed just over the crossbar in the 54th minute. Longwood kept the pressure on as freshman Anthony Ugorji|Washington, D.C. (Archbishop Carroll) created space and sent a shot that was saved by the diving North Florida goalkeeper. Longwood continued to push forward and had a pair of corner kicks in the 69th minute. UNF scored the match-winning goal on a breakaway by Mauricio Valderruten at 87:42.

“Goals win games, it's as simple as that,” said seventh-year head coach Jon Atkinson. “Possession and chances are only secondary stats to the one that really matters. The guys are dejected right now and rightly so, but we have character in this team and we will get it right.”

The Lancers outshot the Ospreys 11-7, including 6-3 in the second half, and had a 4-1 edge in corner kicks. Senior goalkeeper Joel Helmick|Springfield (W.T. Woodson) made four saves while Ugorji attempted a match-high three shots. Ryan Husted recorded six saves for UNF and Ricky Lawrence paced the Ospreys with two shots.