LU takes win into regular season

Published 1:02 pm Thursday, August 25, 2016

It appears senior midfielder Finnlay Wyatt is in midseason form.

A product of Sheffield, England, Wyatt’s three-point night, including a goal and an assist, propelled Longwood University’s men’s soccer team past Lynchburg College, 4-1, Monday at the Longwood Athletics Complex in the Lancers’ preseason finale.

“There is no better test than to take practice situations and apply them in game settings,” said Longwood 14th-year head coach Jon Atkinson. “I thought our guys did well overall, rebounding from a slow start.”

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Squaring off against a Lynchburg program that won 10 games in 2015, the Lancers tallied three first-half goals in a span of seven minutes, 10 seconds to take control of a contest in which Lynchburg scored the game’s first goal just 29 seconds into the game.

“Give credit to Lynchburg, they worked hard all game and kept our lads focused throughout,” Atkinson said.

It was a good preparation for the 2016 regular season, which starts for Longwood on Friday at VMI at 2:30 p.m.

Monday’s contest marked the third game in Wyatt’s career where he finished with at least three points.

“It’s been a long spring and summer, so it felt good to be back out on the pitch with the guys,” Wyatt said. “We’ve had to make some adjustments since we have several guys dealing with injuries, so it was nice to be able to contribute.” 

Dan Campos scored first for the Lancers, followed by newcomer Tom Devitt, Wyatt and Mo Jalloh.

Longwood came out and controlled the play for much of the second half.

In two preseason games, including one at preseason No. 17 Virginia, the Longwood defense, spearheaded by Carlos Canas and Marten Pajunurm, gave up just two goals on 17 shot attempts by the opponent.

A total of six newcomers were featured throughout the Lancer lineup with Devitt, along with freshmen Connor Rea and Max Poelker inserted into the starting lineup.

After the completion of regulation, the two teams played two extra 30-minute sessions with Sepehr Harandi getting the only tally of the session.

“I feel we still have a few gears to go up, but it was certainly a step in the right direction as we prepare for the season ahead,” Atkinson said.