LYNCHBURG, Va. – Sophomore Philip van Berkom/Zetten, the Netherlands notched a second-half goal to knot the score at 1-1 before the Longwood University men’s soccer team fell, 2-1, in overtime at Big South Conference and in-state rival Liberty University (8-7-0, 4-4-0) on Tuesday evening in Lynchburg at Osborne Stadium. Junior Jonathan Kukapa/Leesburg added an assist on van Berkom’s goal to force the extra time, but the Flames’ Kyle Breitmeyer scored the difference-maker in the 98th minute. Longwood (6-6-3, 5-2-1) returns home to host fellow Big South member Presbyterian College on Saturday, November 2 in a 3 p.m. tilt.

“It is always heartbreaking to lose in this fashion, but that’s what tests a team’s character to see what they are made of,” said head coach Jon Atkinson. “Credit to Liberty, who made it hard for us to play tonight and manufactured two timely goals. Our first half performance wasn’t up to scratch, but I’ll give our lads a ton of credit for the way they dug deep to get back in the game on an even keel. You won’t see a better goal all season from Phil. I think with a bit more quality in the final third, we could have seen a different result, but it wasn’t to be, and we will just prepare for the next game in the right way to finish the regular season out strong.”

After almost eight minutes of back-and-forth action without a shot to open the game, Liberty earned a corner kick and made the most of the opportunity. Jonatan Torres played the ball in on the set piece causing a scramble in front of the net before Blessing Tahouna knocked it loose for teammate Sachem Wilson, who chipped the ball up and over Longwood’s falling freshman keeper Carlos Canas/Manassas. The Lancers registered their first shot of the night on a free kick, as sophomore Rhys Cairns/Washington, England dished a short pass to classmate Mike Durr/Brandon, Miss. for the attempt, but it was blocked inside the box by a Liberty defender. Longwood had another chance to knot the game on its next possession, earning a corner kick that resulted in a behind-the-back tip on target from freshman Ben Ferrell/Fairfax Station that was stopped by Liberty keeper Jeremy Lee. After a 12-minute lull, junior Anthony Ugorji/Washington, D.C. fired the game’s next two shots, the first of which was blocked from the right side of the box before the second flew high. Liberty earned a free kick in the final seconds of the half, but Tim Harbison launched his shot off of the Lancers’ wall and Tahouna followed with a rebound that was batted away by Canas to send Longwood into the half facing a 1-0 deficit.

Coming out of the break, the teams traded possession in the early minutes before Liberty’s Torres and Tahouna sent a pair of shots wide. The Flames came close to extending their margin on a header by Sam Duininck that skimmed the top of the net in the 59th minute. Liberty followed with three more shots, but the Lancers continued to play solid defense and quickly regained the momentum in their offensive end, as Kukapa kicked the ball out from the top of the box to van Berkom, who booted a laser from 35 yards out that found the top left corner of the net to knot the score at 1-1 in the 65th minute. Liberty threatened in the final minutes of regulation when Duininck rang the post from 20 yards out on a corner, and had another attempt blocked in the last second, maintaining the 1-1 draw and forcing overtime.

Longwood tallied the first chance of the extra time, as Kukapa wound up, but his shot was blocked right off his foot. The difference-maker came in the 98th minute when Juan Nino inserted the ball into the box for Breitmeyer, who dribbled close to the net before sending a slow roller by Canas to earn the 2-1 victory for the Flames.

Tuesday’s match marked the 20th meeting ever between Longwood and Liberty in the sport of men’s soccer. The Flames now hold a 12-4-4 advantage in the all-time series.

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