FARMVILLE, Va. – Junior Anthony Ugorji/Washington, D.C. scored what would be the game-winner in the first minute of play, as the Longwood University men’s soccer team defeated Big South Conference and in-state rival Radford University (4-4-2, 1-0-1) on Wednesday evening in Radford. With the win, the Lancers improve to 3-4-3 overall, including an unbeaten 2-0-1 record in Big South action. Freshman Ben Ferrell/Fairfax Station tallied his first career assist on Ugorji’s goal to add to the offensive effort. Longwood will remain on the road, as the squad is slated to travel to Big South opponent Gardner-Webb University on Saturday, October 12 for a 5 p.m. tilt in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.

“Getting a result on the road in such a hard place to play shows the maturity of this team,” said head coach John Atkinson. “We got off to the best of starts and had to weather a strong Radford push in the second half, but we hung firm for the win, and just as good, the clean sheet with Carlos playing well once again protected by a stellar back line. This gives us three more points in the conference towards our goal and we just have to take every game as it comes.”

Longwood attacked quickly, breaking the game open just 32 seconds into play. After a miscue by the Highlanders keeper, Ferrell played the ball off his body to set up a header by Ugorji that found the back of the net to give the Lancers an early 1-0 edge. Stephen Hudgens logged the first attempt of the night for Radford before Longwood threatened to extend its margin on a corner kick by sophomore Rhys Cairns/Washington, England. On the set piece, sophomore Michael Durr/Brandon, Miss. launched a shot that bounced off the crossbar before classmate Sam Yardley/Fairfax Station had a chance blocked. After more than 15 minutes of back-and-forth action, during which neither side was able to register a shot, sophomore Zach Crandall/Lorton got his foot on the ball for an attempt that sailed wide. Radford closed the period with two more chances by Garland Smith and Jamie Summers, but neither Highlander was able to convert, sending the Lancers into the break with a 1-0 lead.

Coming out of halftime, the teams traded shots with Longwood notching the first of the period off the foot of freshman Nnamdi Ikeazor/Lagos, Nigeria. The Highlanders offense sparked to life with seven consecutive shots over the next 18 minutes, but the Lancers’ stingy defense held onto the team’s one-goal buffer. Crandall broke the silence for Longwood with a hard strike on goal that was batted away by RU’s Dane Wilson. The Highlanders took a slight, 3-2 shot advantage in the final minutes of the outing, but were unable to change the outcome of the game, as Longwood sealed the 1-0 decision.

Radford outshot Longwood, 14-8, in the match, but the Lancers had two shots on goal compared to just one for RU. Wednesday’s match marked the 17th meeting between Longwood and Radford in the sport of men’s soccer.
 

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