Box Score

Garden City, N.Y. - Earlier this afternoon, the #1 seeded men's soccer team hosted the #2 Lancers of Longwood in the Atlantic Soccer Conference Championship game. Both teams were deadlocked at 0-0 through regulation and two overtimes to force a penalty kick showdown. After riding highs and lows, the Panthers found themselves on the short end of the 5-4 score, dropping their final contest and settling for runner up while Longwood went on to be crowned ASC Tournament Champions.

On paper, the game was heavily one sided, favoring the Panthers in shots and shots target while Longwood matched them in corners with five. Adelphi had numerous opportunities to go ahead, but out of their 27 shots, which many of them were extremely close, not one found the back of the net.

In the first half, two of Longwoods six shots were on target, but were stopped by senior keeper, Kyle Blackmer. In the 19th minute, Zack Mahon headed a ball off of a corner and, had Blackmer not get a piece of it, would have put his team ahead. But instead, his attempt deflected off the crossbar and veered out of bounds.

ASC Player of the Year, Nick Surkamp, had his chance with just under four minutes remaining when he fired a blast from 20 yards out, but a big save by Blackmer kept the Lancers at Bay.

Adelphi had opportunities from all over the field coming from numerous scenarios, but could not connect. Mauricio Mora landed three of his five shots on target while Omar Edwards, Domenico Parrelli and Issa Tall attempted two on goal and Brandon Stoneham and Nicholas Costa each registered one on net.

The Panthers threatened in the 54th minute when Tall streaked down the middle toward the box but was fouled, resulting in a free kick. Dan Larenius set up about 20 yards out to take the kick and curved the ball around the Lancer wall, but his attempt bounced off the right crossbar and back into play.

After 90 minutes of regulation play, both teams headed into overtime. Still scoreless through the extra 10 minutes, a second overtime ensued. In desperation attempts, Adelphi pressured hard on offense and almost put the game away two minutes in when Stoneham sent in a shot from just outside the 18 and nearly ended the game. Keeper Joel Helmick put a finger on it, getting just enough to redirect the ball to the crossbar where it bounced back into play.

In dramatic fashion, the winner came down to a shootout. Adelphi sent out Parrelli first who's attempt went just high. Longwood responded with Mahon, but was stopped dead in his tracks by Blackmer who came up with a big save. Mora and Travis Tennie were successful on their attempts while the Lancer's Devin Pierce made his, but Surkamp was denied by another Blackmer save.

Up 2-1, Larenius had a chance to back the Lancers into a corner, but his attempt was just too strong and for the second time in the game, hit the post. Longwood's Brian Henry, Chris Saul and Adel Sarras went on to convert on their kicks while Igor Lantsberg and Adam Winzimer found the back of the net as well to even the score at 4-4.

Steven Rivera was stopped by Helmick to put the pressure on Blackmer into a save or lose situation in which he came up big by stopping Shane Johnson's kick. Stoneham proved to be the Panther's final kick as his shot was just a knick off target allowing Vinnie Llana to give his team the win with the final kick.

The Panthers outshot Longwood 27-10. Blackmer made three saves in the loss while Helmick made nine.

Adelphi closes the books on the 2011 campaign with an 8-9-2 overall record and runner up of the ASC Tournament.

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