ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A golden goal from UNC Asheville's Zach Joens with less than two minutes remaining in double overtime lifted the Bulldogs to a 3-2 win over Longwood Saturday afternoon at Greenwood Field.
With two goals and an assist, Joens continues a stretch in which he has contributed to seven of Asheville's 10 goals this season. The Asheville forward vaults into the top-five in the league with 11 points this season season, as he recorded a game-high five shots throughout Saturday's game.
The game-winner from Joens came in the 108th minute after Asheville tied the game on two occasions, including a header off a throw-in during the 87th minute. Despite Longwood carrying the play for the majority of the extra-session, as evidenced by a 5-4 advantage in shots and a 5-1 edge in corner kicks, Asheville converted a chance off a feed from Chuka Anyafo to Joens for the game-winner.
The loss for the Lancers (3-4-1; 0-1-0 BSC) gives the squad back-to-back losses for the first time in 2016 to drop the below the .500 mark. It marks just the second time in the past four seasons that Longwood has dropped its Big South opener.
"I guess it wasn't our day," said Longwood head coach
Jon Atkinson. "We had enough clear chances to win a hatful of games, but a combination of top goalkeeping and poor finishing left the door open for a spirited Asheville team to overtake us in sudden-death.
Lance Da Silva (0-2-0) made his second consecutive start in goal, making a season-high four saves. Chris Katt picked up the win for Asheville, making five saves.
Senior
Michael Margulis tallied his first of the season, finishing a cross from
Marten Pajunurm on the right side of the six-yard box in the game's fourth minute. It marks the first goal for Margulis since his sophomore campaign.
After Joens tied it with his first of the game in the 58th minute,
Mo Jalloh finished off a play where
Dan Campos sent him a through ball in the box. Jalloh got to the ball just before colliding with Katt to give Longwood the once again.
Campos, who tied with
Finnlay Wyatt for the team lead a season ago with six assists, picked up his fourth assist in his last five games, going back to Longwood's 3-0 win over Newberry College.
Making a late-game push with Longwood holding a 2-1 lead, Zack Compton connected on a Joens 87th minute throw-in for the equalizer and send the game into overtime.
Longwood had four opportunities off corner kicks in the opening overtime, but was unable to place a golden-goal past Katt. In addition, Campos and Wyatt each had opportunities to convert in the second extra session, as Katt was equal to the task to keep the game knotted.
The goal from Joens came after Asheville was able to get behind the Longwood defense for just two shots in the second extra period, as he was able to get behind the Longwood defense for the game-winning goal.
"It's a painful way to end a game on the wrong end, but it is what it is and we need to rebound quickly and get some players healthy as we start a busy conference slate and look to get back on track," Atkinson said.
"I fully believe in this team and we have shown that we can match any team."
Longwood will face a short turnaround, as the Lancers look to rebound against ACC-foe Pittsburgh Monday, Sept. 26. It'll mark the second ACC side the Lancers will have faced during the regular season and the third overall. Kickoff from the Athletics Complex is set for 6 p.m.
#GoWood
