LEXINGTON, Va. –  Longwood's newcomers made their presence felt throughout the day, combining for eight of the squad's 10 points in a 4-0 season-opening win over VMI Friday afternoon at Patchin Field.
 
Eoin O Donovan enjoyed a three-point game, while Connor Rea and Max Poelker each added a goal in their debuts to help the Lancers earn a third straight season-opening win over VMI and the second in Lexington in that span.
 
"We couldn't have asked for a better day with keeping the clean sheet and getting a result on the road," said 14th year Longwood head coach Jon Atkinson. "The lads prepared well and were determined throughout, so we're happy to get the season off and running."
 
After notching five points, including two goals and one assist last season at Lander University, O Donovan led the Lancer attack that saw the newcomers total eight of Longwood's 10 points in the contest.
 
Longwood dominated in the attacking third throughout by posting a resounding 21 shots, with 11 on target.
 
Senior Carlos Canas started the contest and was relieved in the 87th minute by freshman Lance Da Silva, as the pair combined for the clean sheet, facing four VMI shots.
 
Rea scored his first collegiate goal in the 22nd minute to give the visitors a 1-0 lead, as he took a O Donovan cross to the middle of the box and shot it through traffic into the lower, right corner of the goal.
 
That was all the scoring for the Lancers, who outshot the Keydets by a 10-3 margin in the opening half with five shots on target.
 
O Donovan doubled the Lancer lead to 2-0 in the 50th minute with the first of three second half goals for the blue and white, as he rifled a shot into the upper left corner from 25 yards out after retreating a VMI clear following a corner kick.
 
Senior defender Evan Fowler tallied the first goal of his career in the 70th minute, as he was parked right out in front of a Tom Devitt cross from the right side and was able to tap it past Keydet goalkeeper Mason Worsham.
 
Poelker became the third newcomer of the day to score his first goal in the blue in white, as he scored the final goal of the afternoon in the 82nd minute of play after taking on the defense and clanking a shot off the far post and past Worsham.
 
"It was nice to get a balance on the scoresheet, which I feel is a key to this year's success," Atkinson. "Seeing our newcomers get on the scoreboard is an added bonus."
 
Robert Allen took the loss for the Keydets, giving up two goals on seven shots against. He was replaced by Worsham in the 57th minute and he allowed two goals on four shots.
 
The Lancers were without the services of last season's leading scorer Willy Miezan after the redshirt sophomore suffered a season-ending injury during the squad's exhibition game at No. 17 Virginia.
 
Five newcomers were inserted into the starting lineup for the Lancers, including Devitt, O Donovan and sophomore transfer Daniel Marques. Poelker and Rea were also placed into the starting lineup. In addition, Jacob Parrott and Da Silva also made their Longwood debuts off the bench.
 
Longwood will seek the program's first 2-0 start to a season since joining the Division I ranks, as the Lancers will have eight days to prepare to take on George Mason Saturday, Sept. The opening kick off is set for 7 p.m. from Fairfax, Va.
 
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