ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A pair of unanswered goals in the second half from Ander Extaniz and
Markus Gronli lifted Longwood to a 4-2 win over UNC Asheville Saturday night at Greenwood Soccer Field.
Ander Extaniz scored the go-ahead goal in the 51st minute off a header on a
Markus Gronli corner kick, as the Lancers (3-4-0, 1-0-0 Big South) start 1-0 in the Big South for the first time since the 2015 season while the Bulldogs (1-7-1, 0-2-0 Big South) drop their second straight game to begin conference play.
"Getting results on the road are never easy and this proved no exception," said Longwood 13th-year head coach
Jon Atkinson. "UNC Asheville are a spunky outfit and caused us lots of problems all night to get into a rhythm. We're delighted to get three points and our first win in conference."
That assist from Gronli was part of a three-point night, as he added an insurance goal in the 85th minute for his second marker of the season. The freshman has impressed in his Longwood debut season, producing the second-highest point total for the team with two goals, three assists.
Coming off a pair of ACL injuries that cost him all of the 2016 and 2017 campaigns,
Willy Miezan tallied his first goal since returning just 14 days ago against Robert Morris. The goal, taken from long range just prior to the half, from Miezan is his first since a dynamic redshirt-freshman campaign in which he ranked among the top 10 in the NCAA in goals score while finishing in the Big South.
Mikel Abando tallied his fourth goal of the season to get the scoring started for the Lancers in the 17th minute, finishing a cross from
Jeremy Jaquier into the right-hand corner.
Longwood was able to overcome a 1-0 deficit after Luiz Felipe Dantas scored an early goal for the Bulldogs while Nate Evans tallied the second Asheville goal in the last second of the opening half.
In goal,
Miguel Bayma earned his first career start, facing 15 shots throughout, as he was aided by the backline trio of
Jonas Kalchner,
Ryan Fleming and Aj Kmeic. Bayma's performance bettered that of Dakotah Bainter, who allowed all four Longwood goals on 15 shots.
"The lads are happy, they're a genuine bunch and know we have plenty to do," Atkinson said.
With Saturday's game being the third of four straight games on the road, Longwood will play the final game of its road stretch Tuesday, Sept. 25 at George Mason. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
#GoWood
