Longwood University Athletics

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Longwood men's soccer showed grit and determination twice rallying from a two-goal deficit to win a high-scoring 6-5 contest at William & Mary in the season opener on Thursday night at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field.

It was a notable evening on a lot of fronts for the Lancers, who scored four times over a 15:41 span of the second half to win for the first time in 12 tries against the Tribe. Longwood's six goals on the night marked the most in a road game during the program's Division I era and the second most in any DI contest all-time.

Individually, senior Mesfin Roda tied the school record with three assists in a DI game. He was one of five Lancers with multiple points as junior Joshwa Campbell and sophomore Youssef Shafei each scored twice in the win. Shafei, celebrating his 20th Birthday, notched the game-winner with just over a minute remaining. Junior Brando Bedolla tallied a goal and two assists, while senior Pau Garcia posted a goal and an assist in the second half as a reserve.

Longwood found itself in a two-goal hole for the second time in the contest just 15 minutes into the second half after W&M scored off a corner kick.

With just 16 minutes remaining, the Lancers pulled one back thanks to the head of Campbell. He headed home a lofting pass from Roda into the right side of the frame from six yards out for his second tally of the night to close the gap to 4-3.

Bedolla set up Garcia with a nice move to the endline in the 82nd minute. His cross was deflected by W&M goalkeeper Diego Garciarena, but Garcia chested it down and hammered home the equalizer for his first career goal.

It was Bedolla alone who put the Lancers on top for good in the 87th minute. The junior striker cut the ball back to his right foot just inside the top of the 18 and unleashed a shot just off the underside of the crossbar over the W&M goalkeeper to give the visitor a 5-4 lead.

Less than two minutes later, Shafei provided the game-winner as the Lancers scored off a free kick. On the play, junior Evan Gaines lofted a pass from near midfield into the right side of the area. Senior Ezrah Serralde volleyed it to Shafei, who lifted over the W&M goalkeeper into the left side of the net from six yards out.

While W&M held a slight 17-16 advantage in shots, Longwood was the more dangerous attack, putting nine on goal compared to seven for the Tribe. The Lancers also generated 12 corner kicks compared to nine and held a 56% to 44% advantage in possession.

In the opening 45 minutes, the Lancers rallied from an early two-goal deficit, scoring twice in the span of 7:36.

A nice combo play at the top of the box set Shafei open in the right side of the penalty area, and he scored inside the near post in the 29th minute to pull LU within one. Roda and Bedolla set the play up with the ladder feeding Shafei. 

In the 36th minute, Longwood cashed in a set piece to knot the match. Off a Roda corner kick, Campbell flicked a header into the far post to tie the contest at two.

Longwood opens the home portion of its schedule on Monday night when it welcomes Sun Belt foe Coastal Carolina to Farmville, Va. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. 

Scoring Summary
8' | W&M – Own Goal
19' | W&M – Own Goal
29' | Longwood – Youssef Shafei (Mesfin Roda/Brando Bedolla)
36' | Longwood – Joshwa Campbell (Roda)
38' | W&M – Damen Burney (Alex Kochell)
60' | W&M – Evan Rabush (Gabe Ruitenberg)
74' | Longwood – Joshwa Campbell (Roda/Pau Garcia)
82' | Longwood – Garcia (Bedolla)
87' | Longwood – Bedolla (unassisted)
89' | Longwood – Shafei (Evan Gaines/Ezrah Serralde)
90' | W&M – Kai Feng (Alex Garrison)