PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Longwood University men’s soccer team dropped a 3-0 decision at Duquesne University (1-0) in the squad’s season opener on Friday evening in Pittsburgh, Pa. Sophomore Zach Crandall/Lorton led the Lancers with four shots in the match. Three different Dukes tallied one goal apiece en route to the victory. Longwood (0-1) returns to action on Sunday, September 1 when the team travels to the University of Pittsburgh for a 3 p.m. tilt.

“The nature of this defeat is what will sting,” said head coach Jon Atkinson. “You can live with disappointments, but not regrets and the lads will feel this one. The game itself was within reach throughout, but basic errors out of the gate cost us dearly and put us in a hole unnecessarily. This affected the rhythm since we had to play catch-up. Some of this was reflected in the shot selection, taking low-percentage, long-range efforts. On the flip side, we had more than enough chances, good chances to claw ourselves back, but it was a night we have to take on the chin and promise to do ourselves justice on Sunday.”

The Dukes quickly broke the game open, as Alex Healion headed a cross from teammate Ryan Merrifield past sophomore goalkeeper Paul Hegedus/Ashburn and into the back of the net to give Duquesne a 1-0 advantage in the third minute. The Lancers moved the ball down the field and retaliated with three consecutive shots, but the visiting squad was unable to knot the score. Crandall led the offensive attack with Longwood’s first two shots of the night, hitting the crossbar with his second. Sophomore Lee Martin/Gambrills, Maryland followed with a shot of his own off of a corner kick by senior Jared Windt/Haymarket, but the attempt sailed high. Duquesne extended its margin to 2-0 in the 20^th minute when Karter Sell broke free from the pack, dribbled into the box and fired a shot to the right of Hegedus for the score. Longwood outshot Duquesne, 4-0, during the remainder of the half. Sophomore Mike Durr/Brandon, Mississippi notched two attempts, while classmates Zach Corcoran/Martinsville and Christian Keilty/Spotsylvania added one apiece, but the Lancers were unable to get on the board before the half expired.

Coming out of the break, DU pulled ahead, 3-0, when Josh Ellis launched a hard shot off the crossbar and into the goal in the 51^st minute. Duquesne rattled off two more shots before Longwood regained momentum with four shots in a row. Freshman Ben Ferrell/Fairfax Station sent his attempt wide and classmate Evan Fowler/Chester was blocked before a header by Ferrell and a hard shot by Crandall were both turned away by DU keeper Sam Frymier. The teams traded one shot apiece before both sides went silent for more than 13 minutes. Corcoran and Ferrell ended the drought with the Lancers’ final attempts of the outing, but neither was on target, as Duquesne picked up the 3-0 decision.

Longwood outshot Duquesne, 14-8, in the match and had more corner kick opportunities, 8-5. Crandall put one of his team-best four shots on goal. Ferrell logged three shots in the outing, while Corcoran tallied a pair. Martin, Keilty and Fowler added one each. Hegedus recorded three saves in the complete game effort. Merrifield led the Dukes with a pair of shots.

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

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