FARMVILLE, Va. -- Marshall forward Jordan Sackaris punched in the game-winning goal seven minutes into the second half to lift the Thundering Herd to a 1-0 win over Longwood in front of a massive Lancer crowd Friday evening at the Athletics Complex.
In the culmination of Longwood's seventh annual Greatest Athletics March Ever event, Marshall (1-2-0) stole a win in front of 1,718 spectators on the strength of Sackaris' go-ahead score and a four-save shutout from Herd goalkeeper Emily Moreland. Moreland won the battle of goalkeepers against Lancer junior
Maria Kirby, who let just one of the 17 shots she faced slip by.
The shutout was the first of Moreland's career and featured a late defensive stand following Sackaris' goal. After Sackaris beat Kirby in a 1-on-1 standoff in front of the net in the 52nd minute, Longwood unloaded five shots over the next 25 minutes. Moreland was there to stop the pair of those that were on net, including a breakthrough opportunity for Lancer senior
Christina Corbin that the Marshall goalkeeper stonewalled from 15 feet out.
"They say that showing up is half the battle, and the reality for us tonight is that we only showed up for the second half," said Longwood head coach
Todd Dyer. "Though it was 0-0 at the half, we were way out of character in terms of our energy, movement and combativeness. The second half we responsed and started playing more direct, like Marshall did to us throughout the game, and we created some real scoring chances. Ultimately, we conceded a goal once again on a set piece, and we didn't finish any of the chances we created for ourselves.
"We're learning plenty of tough lessons here in the early part of the season, and hopefully we're able to apply some of that in the near future and starting earning some positive results."
Longwood (0-2-0) had four chances from the corner in the second half but came away empty-handed each time. Three-time All-Big South midfielder
Amanda Spencer got a head on one of those midway through the second half, but Marshall's defense clogged her shooting lane and cleared it out. Sophomore newcomer
Annie Boros, a Stony Brook transfer, also got a foot on another corner in the second only to see Moreland corral it to keep Marshall's lead intact.
The loss comes in front of one of Longwood's largest crowds in women's soccer history. The mass of Longwood fans in attendance was the byproduct of The G.A.M.E., the university's annual celebration to start the academic year which sees the student body walk to the Athletics Complex field from campus through Farmville.
We're honored to be part of such a significant event and tradition by hosting The GAME here at Longwood. Obviously, we're sorry to disapoint in regard to the final result, but a night like this when the whole campus and Farmville community comes together is a great to kickstart the academic year.
They say that showing up is half the battle and the reality for us tonight is that we only showed up for the second half. Though it was 0-0 at the half we were way out of character in terms of our energy, movement and combativeness. The second half we responsed and started playing more direct, like Marshall did to us throughout the game, and we created some real scoring chances. Ultimately, we conceded a goal once again on a set piece and we didn't finish any of the chances we created for ourselves.
We're learning plenty of tough lessons here in the early part of the season and hopefully we're able to apply some of that sometime in the near future and starting earning some positive results.
"We're honored to be part of such a significant event and tradition by hosting The G.A.M.E. here at Longwood," Dyer said. "Obviously, we're sorry to disapoint in regard to the final result, but a night like this when the whole campus and Farmville community comes together is a great to kick start the academic year."
The Lancers have fewer than 48 hours to prepare for their next game, a 1 p.m. matchup at two-time reigning SWAC champion Howard Sunday. Longwood pulled out a hard-fought 1-0 win in Farmville the last time the teams met, but that loss prompted the Bison to go on a three-game winning streak that eventually propelled them to their second straight conference title.
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