FARMVILLE, Va. – Forward Sachem Wilson scored the game-winning goal to lead the Liberty men's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Longwood in a defensive clash Wednesday evening at the Athletics Complex.
 
In a back-and-forth battle marked by strong defensive play on both sides of the field, Wilson's game-winner came in the 55th minute and was set up by a cross by Bay Kurtz through traffic in the box. Kurtz' pass went from right to left across the net to Wilson, who settled with one touch and knocked it in for the go-ahead score.
 
That would be the lone score in a game in which Liberty and Longwood traded lengthy possession advantages on opposite sides of the field. The Lancers pressed the net over the final six minutes and launched six shots on goal, but the Liberty defense clogged the box and deflected all four of those to preserve goalkeeper Scott Sutarik's fourth shutout of the season.
 
"Games like tonight are harder to take, purely because we are getting closer as a team," Longwood head coach Jon Atkinson said. "Take nothing away from Liberty…they are a strong team and well-coached, but I felt we had the better moments. We were just unable to convert to give us something from the game that I thought we deserved."
 
Liberty (7-4-1, 2-3-0 Big South) managed to snuff a red-hot Lancers offense that had scored four goals in back-to-back games, both Big South wins. Key to Liberty's shutout was bottling up reigning Big South Attacker of the Week Anthony Ugorji, who scored four goals in Longwood's two victories last week but managed just one shot on goal tonight.
 
Longwood (3-9-1, 2-4-0 Big South) outshot Liberty 17-15, aided primarily by the offensive onslaught in the closing minutes. The Lancers' best opportunity came in the 89th minute off the foot of Michael Margulis, who fielded a pass in front of the net and struck it to the opposite post. Liberty goalkeeper Sutarik was caught out of position, but defender Tyler Bullock stepped in front of the open goal to knock the shot away.
 
The loss derails a two-game winning streak for the Lancers, who will look to get back on the winning track Saturday in a non-conference matchup at Lipscomb in Nashville, Tenn.
 
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