FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University men’s soccer team played to a 0-0, double-overtime draw against Big South Conference opponent Gardner-Webb University (0-6-1) on Saturday evening at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. The Lancers (2-6-1) were led by sophomore Taylor Evans|South Riding, Va. (Freedom), who tallied two shots in the outing. Longwood returns to action on Wednesday, September 26, when the team hosts Campbell University beginning at 6 p.m.

“This was a typical conference battle that could have gone either way,” said head coach Jon Atkinson. “Gardner-Webb had its moments in the first half, and in the second half, we got adjusted to the game, but it didn’t translate into many chances. We had a glorious chance to win it in overtime, but it wasn’t to be. The coaching staff is proud of the effort the team showed. It’s always good to get a clean sheet and a point, and we are showing improvement with every game.”

The teams opened the game with 45 minutes of scoreless action. Gardner-Webb controlled the momentum early, outshooting Longwood, 11-3, in the first half, and had a chance to break the game open in the 38th minute. Riley Shelton dribbled into the box, drawing sophomore goalkeeper Paul Hegedus|Ashburn (Broad Run) away from the net, before firing a shot over his head, but a clean defensive save by senior Mike Tegler|Stafford (North Stafford) extinguished the opportunity and sent the teams into the break knotted at 0-0.

The stalemate continued in the second half, as neither squad could find the back of the net and combined for just four shots. Still locked at 0-0 through the 90 minutes of regulation, Longwood and Gardner-Webb moved to a 10-minute, sudden-victory overtime period.

The teams traded possessions and neither was able to get a single shot off until the 98th minute, when sophomore Anthony Ugorji|Washington, D.C. (Archbishop Carroll) sent a header hard and high towards the net, but the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ keeper made a jumping save to send the game to a second overtime period. In the final 10 minutes of the match, both sides went without a shot to end the game in a 0-0 draw.

In addition to two shots from Evans, Longwood received one shot each from senior Vinnie Llana|Raleigh, N.C. (Broughton), junior Jared Windt|Haymarket (Battlefield) and freshman Zach Corcoran|Martinsville (Martinsville) in the match.

GWU was led by Satoshi Tatsumi, who tallied a game-high four shots. The Runnin’ Bulldogs outshot Longwood, 14-5, and forced more corner kicks, 11-3.

Saturday’s match marked the seventh meeting between Longwood and Gardner-Webb in the sport of men’s soccer and the first since 2004. GWU now leads the all-time series, 4-2-1.

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