BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – In the midst of a three-match road swing, the Longwood men's soccer team earned a huge road win after taking down Gardner-Webb 1-0 on the road on Saturday afternoon.
 
Experience came up clutch for Longwood (4-7-2, 3-2-1 Big South) to earn a road shutout. Goalkeeper Jacob Reimers made four big saves on the day, and the seasoned back line of Dan Ahrens, Jonas Kalchner, Paul Caspar and Ben Wilkinson kept a clean sheet for their second shutout this season. Meanwhile, senior forward Markus Gronli delivered on a penalty kick in the second half to deliver three points in a much-needed road victory that keeps the Lancers in the top four in the conference standings.
 
Gronli's goal came after the Lancer defense stonewalled a determined and tough Gardner-Webb (4-9, 2-3 Big South) attack that fired off six shots in the opening 45 minutes. Reimers made three tremendous diving stops, including on back-to-back shots with 15 minutes to play in the half, to keep the Runnin' Bulldogs off the board.
 
"The points were more important than the performance, and we stood firm in a match that wasn't yielding much," said Longwood head coach Jon Atkinson. "I thought we shaded it throughout, but it wasn't a classic in any regard. Some early saves by Reimers probably seals the man of the match for me, but we know we need to step it up going into the final games."
 
While the defense played the role of brick wall, the offense started to create chances and press forward as the game went along. Finally, in the 72^nd minute, Gronli broke through. The senior rumbled into the box and was taken down to earn a penalty kick. He buried it, and his team-best sixth goal of the season gave Longwood a 1-0 lead it would never relinquish.
 
The Lancers searched for more, but Gardner-Webb goalkeeper Robby Spradlin made a pair of diving stops to turn Longwood aside at the doorstep over the final 15 minutes.
 
"I'm happy for the lads," Atkinson said. "Gardner-Webb isn't an easy place to play, and Tony [Setzer] always has his boys up for the fight."
 
Longwood stays on the road to wrap up a three-match road swing with a trip to in-state rival and former Big South foe Liberty on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Lynchburg. The Lancers then return home for an important conference matchup against Presbyterian on Saturday, October 23 at 2 p.m., and the match will be aired on ESPN+.
 
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