CULHOWEE, NC – On Sunday afternoon, the Longwood women’s soccer team held its own against Western Carolina, the reigning Southern Conference champions.
The Lancers (0-2-1) equalized a 1-0 halftime deficit thanks to goals from Coryn Silberstein And Taylor HoagBut WCU (1-2-1) equalized with a corner kick 10 seconds before the end and the score was tied 2-2.
RATING:
1 2 END
LWU 0 2 2
WCU 1 1 2
24′ | WCU—Kirsten Hahn (4), assist Becca Campbell
56′ | 1. FC Cologne—Coryn Silberstein (1), support Sunny Ferren
71′ | 0:0Taylor Hoag (1), support Emma Jones
90′ | WCU—Becca Campbell (3), assist Milla Syska, Naya Marcil
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Western Carolina bombarded the Lancer goal early with nine shots on goal in the first half and 19 total for the entire game. Sarah Curtis continued to perform brilliantly as Longwood’s goalie. Curtis finished with eight saves, her best performance for Longwood, making four saves in each half.
However, WCU’s Kirsten Hahn blocked a pass from Becca Campbell in the 24th minute.th Minute. She turned around and shot a free kick at the far post.
Curtis and the rest of the Lancers’ defense kept the score level at halftime and Longwood found their stride again after the break.
In the 56thth Minute, Alex Dinger let a ball slide past Sunny Ferren on the wing. Ferren sent a cross into the box and the cross bounced to Coryn Silberstein at the top of the penalty area. Silberstein’s reception of the ball for the corner was absolutely perfect, it slid past the goalkeeper’s outstretched hands and equalized to 1:1.
Fifteen minutes later, the Lancers counterattacked and took the lead. Amanda Arnone sent the ball up the line and Meghan Piazza cut it wide open Emma Jones. Jones ran past her defender and played the ball into the six-yard box, where Hoag headed it into the net to make it 2-1. It was Hoag’s first college goal.
From there, WCU pushed forward and the home team won a corner kick with 25 seconds left after a reflex save by Curtis. Milla Syska initially had trouble with the corner kick, but the ball bounced off the crossbar. Campbell took advantage and tied the game at 2-2.
WHAT THEY SAID:
“Our players showed so much character as they came back from a 1-0 deficit at halftime to take a 2-1 lead,” said Longwood head coach Todd Dyer. “A little heartbreaking that we conceded a corner kick in the last 11 seconds, but all in all it was a gutsy performance and a good result on the road against the reigning SoCon champions. Hopefully these two goals are a sign of what to expect on the offensive end. We continue to learn, we continue to compete and we will improve in late game management. Another big away test is coming up on Thursday.”
“Our players that came on late in the first half and started in the second half really changed the game for us,” Dyer added. “Great goal by Coryn, and Taylor scored her first collegiate goal.”
NEXT:
Longwood stays on the road with a trip to Appalachian State on Thursday. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
#GoWood #Horsepower
