PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Longwood University men’s soccer team played to a 0-0 double-overtime tie at the University of Pittsburgh (0-0-2) on Sunday afternoon. Junior goalkeeper Paul Hegedus/Ashburn recorded a season-best seven saves in his complete game performance in front of the net for Longwood (0-1-1). The Lancers will return to action on Sunday, September 8 when they host IUPUI in the squad’s home opener at the Athletics Complex. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m.

“I can’t be more proud of the effort, commitment and discipline showed by our program,” said head coach Jon Atkinson. “What didn’t start as a good weekend has finished with at least a worthy result against a very physical ACC team. Ignore the stats, as [Pittsburgh] was wildly optimistic (with their shots). We kept them to two good chances and generated a few great chances ourselves.

“The game itself may have lacked quality, but there was a ton of substance and showed a discipline that we can build on in future games. This is still a very young team, but today they earned a big slice of experience in readiness for the season ahead.”

The Panthers controlled the pace of play early, outshooting Longwood, 4-0, in the first 11 minutes of the match. The first two Pitt attempts sailed wide before Hegedus knocked away the third for his first save of the day and a group of Longwood defenders blocked the fourth. Sophomore Zach Crandall/Lorton put a shot on target in the 26th minute for Longwood, but Pittsburgh keeper Dan Lynd was able to get a hand on it. The Panthers retaliated with two more shots, but the Lancers’ defense kept the scoreless stalemate intact. In the final 14 minutes of the half, the squads traded possessions with neither side able to get a shot off, making it 0-0 heading into the break.

Longwood had two chances to get on the board in the early minutes of the second half. Sophomore Lee Martin/Gambrills, Maryland fired a hard shot on goal in the 49th minute, but Lynd made a good save. Just over three minutes later, senior Jared Windt/Haymarket crossed a corner kick into classmate Daena Bodie/Guernsey, England, who launched an attempt just wide of the net. The Panthers followed with a flurry of shots over a 10 minute span, but were not able to convert any of the seven chances, as the Lancer defense remained strong. Bodie ended the drought for the Lancers with a header from six yards out that just cleared the crossbar in the 52nd minute. Pittsburgh logged the final three shots of regulation without avail, sending the game into a 10-minute overtime period.

Both sides notched one shot in the first overtime with Longwood’s attempt coming off the foot of sophomore Will Lambert/Charlottesville, but Hegedus and Lynd each made a save to force a second overtime. Pittsburgh logged the only two shots of the second extra period, but Hegedus pulled through once again, knocking the one on target away and salvaging the 0-0 tie after 110 minutes of play.

Pittsburgh outshot Longwood, 20-5, in the outing, while earning more corner kicks, 13-2. Bodie paced the Lancers with a pair of shots on the day, while Chris Davis and Nico Wrobel led the Panthers with four apiece.

Sunday’s contest marked the first-ever meeting between Longwood and Pittsburgh in the sport of men’s soccer.

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