November 16, 2008

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University men's soccer team finished its 2008 campaign with a 1-0 win over Adelphi in the championship game of the Atlantic Soccer Conference (ASC) Tournament. The games lone goal came from junior midfielder Martin Vickerton/Derbyshire, England (Kirk Hallam Technical College) in the 69th minute of action. Junior Brian Germain/McLean (Langley) picked up the assist after feeding Vickerton with a nice through ball into the box. The #3 seeded Lancers finish the season 8-8-4 overall and 2-2 in the ASC, while #1 Adelphi finish 12-6 overall and 4-0 in the ASC.
   
The game got off to a slow start with neither team able to settle into a rhythm. The two teams traded possession several times throughout the first half with Adelphi outshooting the Lancers 5-3. All three of Longwoods first half shots where broken up by the Panther defense who managed to block all of them. Neither goalkeeper was forced to make a save in the first half, as both teams entered the locker room in a 0-0 stalemate.
   
Adelphi came out in the second half taking an early chance for net in the 49th minute, but had the Lancers defense block the shot. Freshman Kevin Chico/Harrisonburg (Eastern Mennonite) nearly put the Lancers on top in the 66th minute, beating an Adelphi defender for a open shot against the keeper. The play began with a nice give and go play from freshman Zach Mahon/San Antonio, Texas (William Howard Taft), send Chico into open space. Despite his best efforts, Chico was unable to fool the Adelphi keeper who gobbled up the shot.
   
With momentum on their side, the Lancers were able to take a 1-0 lead just three minutes later on Vickerton's team-leading sixth goal. Germain set up the play, taking on a couple of Adelphi defenders and drawing them to the the left side. With the defenders covering him, Germain slipped the ball to a wide open Vickerton who was standing on the edge of the six-yard line. Vickerton calmly placed the ball into the far-post netting past the Adelphi keeper.
   
Germain would try and give the Lancers a 2-0 lead in the 71st minute, taking two shots on goal and forcing the Panther keeper to come up with two big saves. Adelphi would try frantically for the equalizer, but would be unable to beat freshman goalkeeper Joel Helmick/Springfield (W.T. Woodson) who had two huge saves for the Lancers.