FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood got unassisted goals from four different players and chalked up a 4-2 conference win over Campbell Wednesday evening at the Athletics Complex.
 
Battling across a rain-soaked, fog-covered field, the Lancers (2-8-1, 1-3-0 Big South) scored three goals in the first 20 minutes of the game and protected the lead for over 70 minutes en route to their first conference victory of the year.
 
All four of Longwood's goals were solo jobs, starting with freshman Jonathan Majin's chip shot to the back corner of the net in the 12th minute. From there, senior Anthony Ugorji and sophomore Finnlay Wyatt scored their first goals of the season to stake an advantage that Longwood would hold until the final horn.
 
"This result was a long time coming and really tested the resolve of everyone connected to the program," said 13th-year head coach Jon Atkinson. "But we have a wonderful, young, spirited team that is beginning to understand what it takes to be successful at this level. There were some great goals out there tonight – some shear top-class goals, and those are the elixir of the game that galvanizes teams."
 
The early scoring onslaught was a welcome change of pace for the Lancers, noted sophomore defender Michael Margulis, and one that changed the entire mentality of a team that had lost three of its past four games by one goal.
 
"I think it really relaxed us, honestly," he said. "It gave us a sense of, 'OK, we've got it, we're in control, now let's just see it out.' [The win] is just a really big relief for us. We got off to a really rocky start and the results weren't coming like we wanted them to, but it feels really good to get back to winning ways in conference."
 
Longwood's four goals came in direct correlation with the return of senior forward and team captain Ugorji, who missed the first eight games of the year with a leg injury but has logged more than 60 minutes in back-to-back contests. Ugorji's goal against the Camels – his first of the season and ninth of his career – was a sliding flick in front of the box and came just 23 seconds after Campbell tied the game on a Bradley Farias goal in the 16th minute.
 
"It feels good to get back out there," said Ugorji, who was Longwood's leading shooter in the preseason before the injury relegated him to the bench. "The knee's getting stronger every time out, but I'm just taking it day by day. [The goal] felt good, but the most important thing is the win. We've got to get back on winning terms, and this was our first conference win so that's really important."
 
Four minutes after Ugorji's goal, Wyatt netted what would be the eventual game-winner on a long-range bender that curved from right to left inside the post from 22 feet out. Campbell would score again in the 31st minute to cut the deficit to 3-2, but Dan Campos added an insurance goal in the 58th minute on an untouched free kick from the top of the box.
 
The four goals are the Lancers' most since a 5-0 win against Howard on Oct. 22, 2011.
 
"We have much to improve on," Atkinson said, "but we can go into Presbyterian with three points on the board in the conference and the confidence starting to build. That will hopefully see us put a string of results together."
 
The road game at Presbyterian in Clinton, S.C., kicks off at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. The game will stream live and free on the Big South Network.
 
 "This was a good day to be a Lancer," Atkinson said. "I'm thankful we rewarded the fans with tonight's result."
 
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