WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Longwood University men’s soccer team conceded a late goal to drop a 1-0 decision at American University (7-5-2) of the Patriot league on Wednesday afternoon. Senior Devin Pierce|Virginia Beach (Ocean Lakes) and sophomore Taylor Evans|South Riding (Freedom) led the Lancers (3-10-3) with two shots apiece in the outing. Longwood returns to action when its hosts the United States Naval Academy for Senior Night on Tuesday, October 23 at 7 p.m.

“This was a tight game in every sense of the word, only separated by a quality free kick late in the game,” said head coach Jon Atkinson. “While I don’t think we deserved all three points, I think a draw would have been a fair result. Overall, there are many, many positives I can see from this young team and they have been improving with every game. We had seven starting freshman out there today and none of them looked out of place, which bodes well for the future of Longwood men’s soccer.”

Four other Lancers also registered a shot in the match. Freshmen Sam Yardley|Fairfax Station (Robinson) and Will Lambert|Charlottesville (Monticello) put one shot on goal each, while sophomores Jonathan Kukapa|Leesburg (Clarksburg Md.) and Peter Sullivan|Herndon (Herndon) both notched a shot, as well. Freshman goalkeeper Seth Erdman|Hummelstown (Lower Dauphin) made his first collegiate start, tallying a season-high five saves in his first ever complete-game performance.

The squads battled for possession in the first half of the match, with neither side able to find the back of the net. The Lancers had an opportunity to get on the board when Pierce broke down the right side of the field and sent a well-placed cross to Kukapa for the tap in, but an Eagles’ defender beat him to the ball for the clear, extinguishing the chance and sending the teams into halftime knotted at 0-0.

Coming out of the break, the stalemate continued, with both teams fighting for the upper hand in the evenly-matched contest. The Lancers tried to pull ahead in the midst of the half, as Pierce set up Lambert for the one-timer, but the shot was well-saved by the American goalkeeper.

The deciding goal came in the 85th minute of play when the Eagles were awarded a free kick following a Longwood foul. Charlie Hunter lined up to take the shot for American, sending the ball hard towards the post before it bounced in for the game-winner.

American outshot Longwood, 13-8, in the match and took a slight, 5-4 edge in corner kicks. Wednesday’s contest marked the first meeting ever between the Lancers and the Eagles in the sport of men’s soccer. 

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