ROCK HILL, S.C. – Longwood's longstanding reputation of one of the Big South's top defensive teams remains intact.
Continuing a years-long trend of defensive prowess in league play, Longwood (1-5-3, 0-0-1 Big South) protected its net for a full 110 minutes to battle Big South rival Winthrop (2-2-2, 0-0-1 Big South) to a 0-0 double-overtime draw in Saturday afternoon's Big South opener at Eagle Field.
The deadlock marked the Lancers' sixth shutout in their past nine Big South games and dropped their goals against average this season to 1.33, the fourth-lowest in the conference this season.
The draw also closes out a grueling stretch of six consecutive road games for the Lancers, who went 1-2-3 during that stretch with three draws – all shutouts – in their past four games.
Highlighting Longwood's most recent clean sheet was once again a backfield anchored by the starting quartet of
Amanda Arnone,
Brooke Bonner,
Kylie Cahill and
Kaley Unger -- as well as
Alayna Palamar who played 70 minutes off the bench -- all of whom helped limit Winthrop to just two shots on goal for the day. Behind them was senior goalkeeper
Jordan Horacek, who stopped both of those shots to earn her third shutout of the season.
"That was a typical battle on the road in conference," said Longwood head coach
Todd Dyer. "To earn another shutout in that environment shows well for what we are doing defensively. We also started strong keeping the ball and creating some scoring chances. We're getting those looks on goal, but we still aren't quite finding that finishing touch."
The Lancers once again created numerous scoring opportunities, putting eight of their 20 shots on goal, but could not find the back of the net. All-Big South forward
Kiersten Yuhas led the way with six shots, matching a career high she set in her last outing at UMBC, but Winthrop goalkeeper Izzy Giarrizzi was there to deflect all four the Lancer forward put on target.
Giarrizzi's defense of Yuhas' onslaught was part of a heroic performance in goal for the Eagles, as the first-year sophomore starter amassed a career-high eight saves to earn her second straight shutout. Three of those stops came in overtime, including two saves in the final three minutes on game-winning attempts by Longwood freshman
Peri Kraft in the 18th minute and another by Yuhas with just 1:55 to play.
"[Not scoring] makes it difficult on us because goals change games and allow us to play with more freedom and confidence instead of having to chase the game and gut it out in overtime," Dyer said. "Regardless, we will take the point and now look ahead to Radford."
That matchup against Radford is set for this Wednesday, Sept. 22, and will be Longwood's first home game since their home opener against American on Aug. 26. The Commonwealth rivalry showdown against the Highlanders will kick off at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
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