FARMVILLE, Va. — Sophomore defender Aristhid Kamdjin one-touched an Ethan Stevenson feed, bending it inside the far post for the game-winning goal in the 79th minute to lift the Longwood men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Navy at the Longwood Athletics Complex on Saturday.
Kamdjin's goal in his collegiate debut gave the Lancers (1-2-1) their first win of the season, their first under head coach Paul Gilbert and consecutive victories against Navy (1-2-2) for the first time since claiming three straight in the all-time series from 2008-11.
"I think we made that game much more difficult on ourselves than it had to be, but extremely impressed with the resilience of our group, with our attitude — our attitude towards the beginning of the game, our attitude towards some calls not going our way, our attitude towards giving up a goal," Gilbert said. "So, really, really happy with our response to all of that.
"So, for me, incredibly thrilled with the win, but more happy with the process and the way in which we went about it."
Stevenson figured into both Longwood tallies, giving the Lancers a first-half lead, nodding in a 21st minute goal after service from sophomore UNCW transfer Mikey Hernandez. NAIA transfer Jesus Macaya started the play, earning his first NCAA point.
"First goal, it was just an unbelievable cross from Mikey and really didn't have much to do, just kind of get my head on the end of it and it was in the back of the net," said Stevenson, who leads the Lancers with two goals and five points in the first four matches this season. "The assist, I had a little more work to do, but it was good buildup play and all I had to do was slip an easy ball to Aris and he did the rest."
"I mean Ethan Stevenson just doing Ethan Stevenson things," said Gilbert of his senior captain's day. "You would never expect him to score off a header and then, obviously, just picking up loose balls and making the right play and trusting his teammates."
The Lancers controlled play the majority of the opening 45 minutes, outshooting Navy, 8-3, while holding 56 percent of possession.
The tide turned in the second, however, as the Midshipmen returned the favor. Navy's pressure — on the strength of five straight corner kicks in quick succession — led to the equalizer.
In the 64th minute, the ball fell to Wyatt Stevens at the top of the box following a collision in the air in the penalty area. He made no mistake deposited it low, inside the left post and past Longwood goalkeeper Max Hinke (two saves) to knot the game at 1-1.
"I though Navy did a good job of making us really uncomfortable," said Gilbert. "I thought we did not handle the opportunity to make new decisions and better decisions well. Credit to our guys, we were trying to put the game away, we were trying to get the second goal. And, in doing that, we lost the rhythm and the flow."
Navy finished the day with a 14-11 advantage in shots, though the Lancers led, 4-3, in shots on goal. The Mids posted 12 corner kicks to four for Longwood. Navy goalie Pierce Holbrook made a pair of saves in a losing effort.
"Aris was phenomenal," Gilbert said of Kamdjin, the Washington, D.C., product, who last played in France. "He got here a bit late in preseason and so he's been working his way into the team and hasn't played a minute in the first three games. And it's something that I've been harping on to everybody that at some point, we will need most of the guys on the team to play and help us win games. And super thankful for his willingness to be ready when his number was called."
Longwood is back in action Tuesday at UNC Greensboro. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
"I'm happy," Gilbert said of his first Longwood victory, "but in all honesty, I've won a lot of games before … it's more about the process and how we went about winning, and that's what I take pride in and the development of these young people, you're continuing to see that."
