FAIRFAX, Va. – Two late George Mason goals in a span of 30 seconds aided the Patriots past the Longwood men's soccer team in a midweek contest Wednesday night at George Mason Field.
In a game that saw the start time delayed more than an hour, the Patriots scored the only two goals of the game when Tunde Akinlosotu and Colin Brezniak found the back of the net within 30 seconds of each other to hand George Mason (2-3) its second victory in a three-game span.
Longwood (3-5), the Big South's third-leading team in goals scored, was searching for its second straight win after dispatching UNC Asheville four days ago.
"When you don't take your chances, you leave a team hanging around for a moment that can hurt you," said Longwood head coach
Jon Atkinson. "I'm very disappointed at the nature of this loss as there was a lot to be happy about until the last part."
Akinlosotu opened the scoring for the Patriots in the 80th minute, sidestepping Lancer goalkeeper
Miguel Bayma and finishing into an empty net for his first strike of the season. He collected an assist on Brezniak's goal 30 seconds later, sending a cross to the left side.
"Credit to George Mason. I have a ton of respect for them and their staff, but we didn't need to be charitable tonight and if we ingrain a ruthless streak we wouldn't be looking at this score line," Atkinson said. "We slowed a bit after half and that allowed George Mason to creep back in and put the game in balance."
Bayma made his second consecutive start in goal for the Lancers, finishing with four saves on 16 shots against. Clark Gronek picked up the clean sheet for George Mason, making two stops on 13 Longwood shots.
Paired up top with
Mikel Abando, redshirt-senior captain
Willy Miezan led the Lancers with five shots, two on target.
"As it is, we need a response come Saturday and put us back on track," Atkinson said.
On completion of its fourth consecutive game on the road, Longwood will return to the Athletics Complex Saturday, Sept. 29 to host Radford. A rematch of the 2016 Big South Championship game, the Lancers and Highlanders is set for a 6 p.m. kickoff, as part of a doubleheader with the women's soccer team.
#GoWood
