HIGH POINT, N.C. – A first half strike from senior captain Finnlay Wyatt and a shutout bid from fellow senior captain Carlos Canas lifted the Longwood men's soccer team to the program's first-ever Big South Championship game Wednesday night at Vert Stadium, as the Lancers upset second-seeded High Point, 1-0.

Wyatt's goal from the top of the box in the 42nd minute and a second half defensive clinic put on by Canas and the Longwood back line helped Longwood secure its place in Sunday's Big South Championship game at top-seeded Radford.

"The game-winner was a promising attack and the ball fell a little short and I was just ready to pounce on a potential mistake," Wyatt said. "After hitting it, I was just watching it hoping and was happy to see it go in. It was a goal at a very good time in the game for us."

Men's soccer becomes the third Longwood team to advance to the Big South Championship game, joining the three-time Big South champion softball team and the 2013 Big South runner-up women's basketball team.

 "What a fantastic day to be a Lancer and especially for those close to the soccer program," said Longwood head coach Jon Atkinson. "Our lads did a number tonight on a dangerous opponent and fully believe their destiny is in their own hands."

Making their second appearance in the Big South semifinals in four years, the men's soccer program becomes the third Longwood fall sports program to advance to the semifinals of their conference tournament this season, joining the field hockey and women's soccer program to mark the first time that's happened in the 10-year Division I era. Including the softball team's Big South Championship run and baseball's run to the conference semifinals, Longwood has placed five teams into the semifinals in the same calendar year.

"It's an unbelievable sense of pride in how we've come together as a program after a tough season to get things right at the right time," Wyatt said. "It's an unbelievable sense of pride to lead this team of 27 amazing guys. We've come a long way the past couple weeks and it's great to reap the rewards and make history for the program and the start of a successful future."

Wednesday's performance saw Longwood avenge a 3-0 loss on High Point's home field just over a month ago to hold the Big South's highest scoring team scoreless. That effort included a three save performance from Canas, as he and the Longwood defense turned away 15 High Point shots faced.

"We played a consummately disciplined, no fuss game tonight and the work rate was fantastic throughout," Atkinson said.

Longwood's first First Team All-Big South performer in men's soccer, Wyatt provided the game's only goal just prior to halftime in the 42nd minute where he gathered a High Point turnover and rifled a shot into the lower right portion of the High Point net past High Point goalkeeper Keegan Meyer.

Wyatt, along with his partner in the midfield Dan Campos, have given the Longwood attack a boost in the squad's past three games, as the dynamic combination have combined for five goals and three assists to push the Lancers within one win of their first berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Meanwhile, Canas – a three-time team captain – came up with his third clean sheet of the season as the back-to-back Big South All-Conference performer came up with three of his saves in the first half and guided the Longwood back line comprised of Evan Fowler, Marten Pajurnum and Tom Devitt into key blocks and positioning in the second half.

"As a senior, I couldn't ask for a better going away," Canas said.  "It's been an honor representing the name and crest on my chest and back. As a senior captain, I can't ask anymore from my team, instead I extent an enormous thank you to them. We now look forward to the final game and hope we bring back the first championship on behalf of men's soccer to Longwood University."

Together, Devitt, Fowler and Pajurnum each played the full 90 minutes and held the high-flying High Point attack to just 15 shots in the game, as well as four shots when the Panthers were seeking the equalizer to extend their season.

The Longwood senior class comprised of Canas, Wyatt, Zach Corcoran, Evan and Vaughn Fowler and Michael Margulis will become first class to play for the Lancers to compete in a Big South semifinal and championship game throughout their career.  

Those five seniors will have that opportunity come Sunday, Nov. 13 against a Radford squad that captured the Big South regular season championship and gained national recognition in the polls this season. That game will kickoff Sunday at 2 p.m., from Memorial Stadium and be broadcast on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.

"Sunday is a mouth-watering match-up against the league's top team," Atkinson said. "There is no better place to be competing for a championship."

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