Longwood men’s soccer experienced a 2014 season full of letdowns as the team took a step back from their improvement the year before to finish with an overall record of 4-14-1.
Of their 14 losses, eight games were decided by a single goal deficit, including their heartbreaking final game in the first round of the Big South conference tournament against Coastal Carolina.
The Lancers lost 7-0 to the same opponent just three days prior only to return to South Carolina, go down by two goals in the first half and then come back with one of their own and all the momentum in the second.
But in the end, the effort wasn’t enough and their rocky season ended with a 2-1 final score.
“Throughout the spring our guys had a good inner reflection. I think you can look at seasons and you can gain a lot from defeats and adversity and I think a lot of them were unfortunate, but I think a lot of them were just to the fact we lost eight games by one goal,” said men’s soccer head coach Jon Atkinson. “What’s the difference between these games going your way or going against your way? You’ve got to look into where can those little gains be made.”
The offseason saw the team lose eight players, only two of whom were graduating seniors.
Four of the players were international students, coming from Sweden, Nigeria, and Holland.
“There were a lot of individual decisions that were made and that sometimes it’s important that you have at our level. We recruit a healthy support class of internationals and it’s not always easy to determine how they will transition to American culture, life, academics,” said Atkinson.
Though all the players earned minutes, none were consistent starters aside from former Longwood seniors Jonathan Kukapa and Anthony Ugori.
The exit of so many players from the program didn’t worry Atkinson, instead he believes the program hasn’t felt an impact from the loss.
“They gave minutes and were growing in the program so thinking of the impact that we feel, we haven’t felt the impact of the loss except that now the returners that were involved heavily see themselves as major contributors as well now. So in one aspect it’s hard to see anyone leave but the other aspect, I think there’s great opportunity for guys to come in,” said Atkinson.
Thanks to late additions to the roster, Atkinson has a wide variety of players across the 24 man roster as the team returns seven consistent starters and adds three freshman and three transfers.
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“We were very fortunate and happy that a couple of guys committed to us and transferred over. It gives us strength and depth as well. Some very good additions as well as a very strong returning core,” said Atkinson.
The program also went through two assistant coaches following the season, neither coach remaining at Longwood for a full year.
Following former assistant coach Josh Scott moving on after the fall, his replacement, Sergio Rapuano, left his position just before the beginning of men’s soccer’s preseason.
“I think they both left for very good reasons. Other reasons, other opportunities beyond Longwood and you can never fault someone back for that it’s just unfortunate with the timing,” said Atkinson. “When anyone leaves, you leave with knowledge. The two that we had, the coaches offered something in their own style, I think we can learn from that.”
The responsibility of organizing and running preseason fell squarely on Atkinson’s shoulders, while at the same time searching for a new assistant coach.
“That’s the hardest thing any ways, with all that goes into preseason, a lot of planning, structure, organization, having someone alongside to help disseminate some of those tasks and roles is important and as a head coach it was important for me to ensure that we were very much on point so that the players didn’t feel any of that transitional loss,” said Atkinson.
Atkinson found a new assistant coach in 25 year old Sam Avery. This will be Avery’s first experience coaching at the collegiate level, after previously being the head coach of the Heart of Virginia soccer club’s travel U-11 team and playing soccer himself in college.
After getting to know Avery through the soccer club, their churches, and his volunteering with the team last year, Atkinson felt Avery would be a good addition to his staff if the opportunity presented itself.
“Sam worked a little with us last year just to watch the program and he was very eager to help pounce on volunteer capacity so I always had an idea of if something came about or an opportunity, Sam would be at the top of the list when I would call, I just didn’t realize it would be as quick as it actually did,” said Atkinson.
Despite all the changes made surrounding the team in a short span of time, Atkinson is confident that the mentality improvement during the spring season will survive and carry into this fall.
“In the springtime, we really worked on more of the spirit and the synergy of the team,” said Atkinson. “We had to work on our humility, accountability of the team and they really pulled together so we had a phenomenal spring and I think that it was a testament to our growth and it’s kind of now leapfrogged into the preseason where our guys are working hard for each other not just individually trying to do well for the program, they’re working hard for each other.”
The head coach believes starting off the season with a win would help cement the bonds formed during spring season and among veterans and new additions; according to Atkinson, “goals and wins galvanize teams.”
The Lancers will look for a strong beginning in their first exhibition game against Division II Bluefield State College on Wednesday, August 19 at 6 p.m. on their home field.
“I think the guys have made a distinct goal of theirs to erase some of the negative from last year and win the Big South. They are very steadfast in that, I am very steadfast in that. I think these guys are capable and we’re going to take one game at a time,” said Atkinson.
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