BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Longwood tallied four first half goals en route to a 5-1 win at Gardner-Webb in its final road game of the regular season Tuesday at Greene-Harbison Stadium to solidify its spot in the Big South Tournament.

The five goals mark a season-high for the Lancers and is the most goals scored by the squad since scoring five goals against Howard on Oct. 22, 2011.  

With a Longwood (9-7-1, 4-3-1 BSC) win and a draw from High Point against Coastal Carolina, Longwood moves into fourth-place in the Big South standings. The Lancers – who sealed a spot in the Big South Tournament for the third straight season – have posted a 4-1-1 record over their past six games. Meanwhile, Gardner-Webb (4-13-0, 3-6-0 BSC) drops to eighth in the conference standings.

"This was a great result and a solid performance, but maybe a little too wide open for my liking," said Longwood head coach Jon Atkinson. "Both teams had many chances and the difference was we executed at timely moments. Our lads are showing hunger to finish the season strongly and we have every belief that we can stir things in the next few weeks."

Lancers scored their first two goals of the contest in the 20th minute within 27 seconds of each other with the first coming on an own goal by Gardner-Webb, before Willy Miezan followed with his 12th goal of the season 27 seconds later to finish Christian Keilty's cross with a header past Runnin' Bulldog goalkeeper William Liles.

Miezan, who moves into a tie for seventh in the nation in goals scored with 12, scored his fourth goal in the past five games. The redshirt-freshman is one goal shy of cracking the top-five in goals in a single season in Longwood's all-time record books.

In the 41st minute, Longwood went up 4-0 with a pair of goals that came within 30 seconds for the second time in the game. Midfielder Marten Pajurnum struck the ball straight into the net from 35 yards out for his second of the season, before Mo Jalloh bounced the ball over Bulldog keeper William Liles for the four-goal halftime lead.

The Bulldogs cut the deficit to 4-1 on a Clay Edwards goal in the 51st minute, before Zach Crandall assured the Lancers the four-goal victory in the 86th minute on his breakaway goal from just outside the box.

Longwood keeper Carlos Canas made four saves to pick up his sixth win of the season. Meanwhile, Liles recorded three saves in the loss for Gardner-Webb.

The Lancers will have an opportunity to clinch home field advantage in the first round of the Big South Tournament with a win Saturday on senior day against Winthrop. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m., at the Athletics Complex

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