WASHINGTON — The Longwood women's soccer team scored two goals less than two minutes apart after halftime to ensure its first victory of the season, 3-0, over American at Reeves Field on Sunday.
The Lancers (1-2-0) broke out of an early season offensive drought and controlled the match from the start, outshooting the Eagles, 21-2, and holding a 9-4 advantage in corner kicks.
"I'm really proud of our players and their performance today," Longwood head coach Todd Dyer said. "We've had a challenging start to the season with our schedule and early results, but this group has stuck together and continued grow stronger. To score our first goals of the season and earn the shutout on the road is a testament to this group's resolve and mental toughness. They deserve a day like today and they earned every bit of it."
Peyton Curney opened the scoring in the 30th minute, converting a pass from McKenna Vogel to give Longwood a 1-0 lead. The senior drove her ninth career goal into the top-right corner of the net for the advantage.
The Lancers carried that edge into halftime after outshooting American, 9-0, in the opening stanza.
Longwood added to its lead early in the second half. Sophomore and Farmville, Va., native Vogel scored her first collegiate goal in the 60th minute to make it 2-0. On that play, American goalkeeper Riley Molbury palmed a long ball from Sarah Olson off the crossbar, which fell to Vogel, who powered it over the line.
Then, less than two minutes later, Madison Fitzpatrick nodded home a corner kick by Summer Toone for the final margin. The goal was the Nokesville, Va., product's seventh career tally.
Bailey Altizer led Longwood with three shots on goal, and Curney and Vogel each recorded three shots.
Freshman goalkeeper Brynn Clagett turned away a Natalia Croce bid in the 64th minute to preserve her first career clean sheet. Molbury made four saves for the Eagles (0-3-1).Â
Longwood now leads the all-time series against American 5-4-1, including a 2-0-1 mark in the last three meetings.
Longwood returns to action Thursday at VMI. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m., in Lexington, Va., and will be streamed on ESPN+.
