BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Junior Anthony Ugorji/Washington, D.C. scored off of a long pass in the 94th minute to propel the Longwood University men’s soccer team to a 2-1, overtime victory at Big South Conference opponent Gardner-Webb University (4-6-1, 1-3-0) on Saturday evening in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. With the win, the Lancers improve to 4-4-3 overall, including an unbeaten, 3-0-1 record in conference action. Sophomore Zach Crandall/Lorton notched the team’s first goal of the night to give Longwood a lead that stood for almost 80 minutes before Denzel Clarke scored the equalizer for the Runnin’ Bulldogs in the 87th minute to force overtime. Freshman Ben Ferrell/Fairfax Station added an assist on Ugorji’s goal to extend his streak to four consecutive games with at least one point. Longwood will return home to host fellow Big South member VMI on Wednesday, October 16 beginning at 7 p.m.

“This was a great result on the road against a very good Gardner-Webb team,” said head coach Jon Atkinson. “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. 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. Picking up no new injuries is also a plus. I know we have more to go, and the game changed when we took our foot off the gas after the goal. GWU stepped it up, so there is work to be done, but let’s savor the moment and congratulate both Longwood soccer teams for getting road victories.”

For the second game in a row, the Lancers attacked quickly to take a 1-0 advantage. Crandall took control of the ball and carried it in from forty yards out before dribbling around the opposing keeper and playing the ball into the empty net for the go-ahead goal in the eighth minute. Longwood continued to apply pressure, logging the next three consecutive shots, including one on target by freshman Vaughn Fowler/Chester from the top right corner of the box that was turned away by GWU keeper, Matthew Swan. The Runnin’ Bulldogs retaliated with their first offensive push of the night, notching three shots in a row, but two flew high and one was blocked. The Lancers had a chance in the 28th minute, as sophomore Christian Keilty/Spotsylvania fired from 15 yards out on the right side before Swan made the stop. The Lancers’ lone attempt in the final 17 minutes of the half came off the foot of sophomore Sam Yardley/Fairfax Station on a free kick, but it missed wide. Although the Bulldogs registered five shots in the same timeframe, Longwood played solid defense, allowing only one of those shots to make it on goal before being saved by freshman goalkeeper Carlos Canas/Manassas to maintain the one-goal margin at halftime.

Sophomore Philip van Berkom/Zetten, the Netherlands tallied the first attempt of the second half for Longwood from the left side of the box, but the ball sailed wide. In the 58th minute, GWU threatened with a set piece on a free kick, but Canas knocked the ball out of play with a diving save. Crandall followed with a pair of shots for the Lancers, including a one-on-one attempt that was blocked by a Runnin’ Bulldogs defender. Gardner-Webb took a 3-1 shot advantage in the next 12 minutes before sophomore Zach Corcoran/Martinsville and Crandall put back-to-back strikes on target, but both were knocked away by Swan. The equalizer for GWU came in the 87th minute, when Craig Swaby sent a cross from the right side to Clarke in the middle for the tip in, knotting the score at 1-1 and forcing overtime.

The Lancers first attempt in the extra time period was a shot by Keilty that was saved by Swan. GWU answered with three chances of their own before the game-winning goal came in the 94th minute, as Ferrell booted a long pass to Ugorji, who chipped the ball up and over the head of Swan and into the open net to seal the 2-1 decision for the Lancers.

Saturday’s match marked the eighth meeting ever between Longwood and Gardner-Webb in the sport of men’s soccer. The Runnin' Bulldogs still hold a slight, 4-3-1 edge in the all-time series.

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