In front a large crowd for the eighth installment of the Greatest March Ever (G.A.M.E), the Lancers’ opened the season against VMI in a 2-2 draw.
The action began early as sophomore Connor Rea blasted a shot from about 25 yards out to put the Lancers up 1-0 in the second minute.
After the first 15 minutes of play, the game settled into a lull. By halftime, Longwood appeared to be in control of the game, carrying the advantage in shots, shots on goal, time of possession and on the scoreboard.
The Keydets came into the night on a 49-game losing streak, but under second-year head coach Michael Bonelli, the team didn’t get discouraged.
In the 59th minute, the Keydets evened the score on a long pass behind the Longwood defense. First deflected by junior defender Sohrab Shaikh toward the net, senior midfielder David Wright came in to finish it off and tie the game at one a piece.
After giving up the lead, Longwood returned to the attack and had multiple opportunities at the goal. They finally took advantage in the 74th minute as senior captain defender Marten Pajunurm found the back of the net on a rebound from sophomore forward Max Poelker's initially saved shot.
Just when it looked like Longwood had won the game, VMI responded just before the end of regulation with a goal in the 85th minute. Freshman defender Richard Quispe sent Wright a well-struck cross, who finished the play with a header.
The tying goal pushed the game into extra time. Late in overtime, Longwood earned a free kick from just outside the box with senior midfielder Dan Campos, team leader in points last season,taking the kick.
Campos fooled the entire VMI team as he went for the bottom right corner of the goal, but the shot glanced off the post and VMI had survived the Longwood's best overtime opportunity.
The tie ended VMI’s losing streak, though the Keydets remain on a 53-match winless streak (49 loses, four ties).
Longwood has a week before their next game, where the team will travel to the University of Pittsburgh. They will on the Panthers on Friday, Sept. 1.
