The Longwood men’s soccer team (1-3-1) took on the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (UNCG) this past Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Athletics Complex in Farmville, VA. The game ended in a 2-2 tie, in which the Lancers played a well-contested match against the Spartans (0-4-1).
It appeared as though Longwood offensively dominated the first half of the game, in which it was said by Head Coach Jon Atkinson, that they played their best soccer. Sophomore defender Vaughn Fowler, scored his first collegiate goal at Longwood in the 18th minute of the game; the goal was unassisted.
In less than three minutes of play, junior defender Michael Durr scored again for the Lancers with an assist by Fowler, thus giving them a 2-0 lead over the Spartans.
However, in the second half the Spartans were intensely motivated and shifted the offense domination of the game. UNCG came out strong and lowered their deficit to one, with a goal in the 53rd minute from a penalty kick by freshman forward Moises Gonzalez.
Sophomore goalkeeper Carlos Canas and the rest of the Lancers kept their 2-1 advantage over the Spartans, until UNCG redshirt junior forward Dustin Gamradt scored in the 74th minute of the game, thus concluding their 2-2 tie.
The men’s soccer team also took on Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the ODU Sports Complex. The Lancers were defeated by the Monarchs in a 0-2 loss.
The Monarchs struck early in the ninth minute of the game, followed by another goal in the 36th minute of the first half, resulting in the 2-0 lead over the Lancers. The Lancers held their ground the rest of the first half and all of the second half, yet could not get the goals to match their opponent.
Though they suffered a hard loss to the Monarchs, the Lancers will be on the road again, heading to Annapolis, MD to take on Navy on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.
The Lancers will not be back in Farmville, VA until Sept. 30, when they play George
Washington University at the Athletics Complex, at 7 p.m.