FARMVILLE, Va. – Sophomore Brando Bedolla wired a shot to the upper right corner of the net in the 30th minute, but a second-half equalizer from visiting Mount Olive forced the Longwood men's soccer team to settle for a 1-1 draw in its season opener on Thursday.

On the Lancers' goal, junior Jesus Macaya charged down the far wing and laid the ball off to Bedolla straightaway, just outside the box. The first team all-Big South and all-rookie team selection from a year ago then blasted it past Mount Olive goalkeeper Nick Cutlip for the lead.

The goal gave the Lancers a boast after an early feeling-out period. Longwood controlled the play for the final 15 minutes of the half to carry the lead into intermission.

Longwood outshot UMO, 7-5 in the half and 18-11 for the match, but the Trojans rallied with a goal by Haytham Abraham in the 67th minute. Abraham curled it into the net with his left foot after the ball trickled into space at the top of the box.

"It was a disappointing night for us," said Longwood head coach Paul Gilbert. "Certainly not our best performance, but we will regroup, learn from this and grow."

From there, Longwood created a handful of chances — including Phil Appelt banging one off of the crossbar in the final 10 minutes — but was unable to find the go-ahead tally. 

Max Hinke made three saves in the Longwood nets, while Cutlip (three saves) and Daniel Locklear (one) split time for the Trojans.

Next up, Longwood travels to face former Big South Conference foe Coastal Carolina Monday at 7 p.m., on ESPN+.