FARMVILLE, Va. – Against a Campbell men's soccer team that came in leading the nation in goals per game, the Longwood men's soccer team was nearly flawless for more than 80 minutes on a cloudy Wednesday night.
 
Unfortunately for the Lancers, Campbell (5-2-1, 4-1-1 Big South) pounced on one mistake with 7:59 left and tallied the lone goal in the defensive struggle to win 1-0 at the Longwood Athletics Complex.
 
Campbell came in averaging more than three goals per game but Longwood's back line and goalkeeper Jacob Reimers proved to be formidable obstacles for a second straight game after limiting a high-powered USC Upstate team on March 14.
 
The defense blocked five shots and Reimers saved four more. In addition, the team stood strong and fended off 10 corner kicks, with seven coming in the first half of play.
 
"It was an immense effort tonight against a team that can unravel you quickly if you give them time and space," said Longwood head coach Jon Atkinson. "A tip of the cap to Campbell as they have a great squad and found a way tonight, but I must say how proud I am of the lads who poured into the plan from the outset and delivered a measured performance that finished in unfortunate circumstances."
 
Ultimately, the decisive sequence came in the 82^nd minute on a busted play. After a Longwood defender slipped before he could corral a pass just outside the 18-yard box, the ball rolled into the middle of the field near the penalty spot. Campbell's Sami Charaf Amal got there first and escaped the clutches of Reimers before trying to tap it home. Jonas Kalchner blocked it, but the ball bounced directly to Alex Egeonu for the Camels. He gifted it back to Charaf Amal who banged it home for his second goal of the season.
 
Longwood (1-5-1, 0-4-1 Big South) rallied as they have all season and created multiple good scoring opportunities late as they pressed forward for the equalizer.
 
With five minutes to play, Ander Etxaniz headed a free kick just wide. One minute later, Leif VanSlyke was stymied by goalkeeper Samuel Lechuga from a shot from 15 yards out.
 
"We had our moments in this game, it wasn't just a solid shape performance," Atkinson said. "With a bit of luck, we could have laid out the perfect game plan. I believe we can grow and improve even more with what we have. This team is made up of high character kids who tonight showed a level of commitment. That shows they care for each other and the program they represent."
 
"Each day we are focusing on maximizing what we do have, and I believe we have even more to give. It would be wrong of me to fault anything about tonight, and I feel for the lads with the loss, but in some regard we came away with our version of what success looks like this spring."
 
In the first half, the two sides played free-flowing soccer and made it difficult for the other to create in the final third. Campbell attempted five shots, hitting the post once as Reimers saved two others.
 
Meanwhile, Longwood built the attack forward and generated multiple crosses but were unable to connect on the receiving end inside the box as the two sides went into the half level at zero.
 
The Lancers have three matches remaining in the season and head to Winthrop on Sunday for an afternoon match in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Eagle Field, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
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