The LU men’s soccer team won just four games last season and was ranked eighth in the Big South preseason poll.
The Lancers (5-4-3, 4-0-1 Big South) battled through the first portion of their schedule and have hit their stride as of late, winning four in a row in advance of tonight’s match at Campbell (3-6-3, 3-0-1 Big South), a match that will be for second place in the league standings.
Since this paper’s last issue, the side won three conference games by a combined score of 6-2.
For starters, the Lancers recorded a 1-0 road win at Radford back on Oct. 9. Anthony Ugorji scored just 32 seconds in, heading it past Dane Wilson after Wilson misplayed a rebound from Ben Ferrell’s shot.
Freshman goalkeeper Carlos Canas had little work throughout the match, as the Highlanders only had one shot out of 14 end up on net, and he saved that one for his second shutout of 2013.
“We got off to the best of starts and had to weather a strong Radford push in the second half, but we hung firm for the win, and just as good, the clean sheet with Carlos playing well once again protected by a stellar back line,” Head Coach Jon Atkinson said afterward.
Up next was another road game, this time at Gardner-Webb. Zach Crandall scored his second goal of the year in the eighth minute, an unassisted effort that remained the only goal until halftime.
With barely three minutes on the clock, Denzel Clarke converted on a cross to even the score and force extra time. In that overtime period, Ugorji scored his third of the season 3:22 in, taking a long pass from Ferrell and flicking it over Bulldog keeper Matthew Swan for the win.
“We were pushed all the way and had to dig deep, having conceded a goal with three minutes to go and allowing the game to go to overtime,” Atkinson said.
He continued, “Neither team deserved to lose this way, but that's how the game is designed, and I can't be happier for our squad, who worked so hard for this result.
“Once again, we defended stoutly, and having both forwards score is a perfect day.”
Last Wednesday, a 3-1 win over VMI pushed the team’s record to above .500 for the first time all season as the usual suspects got in on the scoring action.
Crandall scored in the 14th minute, tipping in a cross from Vaughn Fowler. Ferrell doubled the team’s lead off a rebound in the 30th minute, and Zach Corcoran scored his first of the year in the 83rd via an Ugorji assist. Max Farinholt had the Keydets’ only goal in the 81st.
“A win is always a reason to be appreciative, and we had three different scorers, but we know we can't afford to let our standards drop if we have any aspirations of climbing the league rankings in the coming weeks,” said Atkinson.
The Lancers are second in the Big South, trailing only No. 13 Coastal Carolina (11-2-0, 6-0 Big South).
The game between LU and Coastal will be the teams’ final regular season matchup, taking place on Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. in Farmville for Senior Day.
