Penalty Shot Propels Flames Past Lancers in Season Opener
By: LibertyFlames.com
August 29, 2006
After a foul in the box, a penalty kick by Darryl Roberts pushed the Liberty Flames past the Longwood Lancers, 1-0, in double overtime Tuesday evening at the Longwood Athletic Complex.
With the win in its season opener, Liberty moves to 1-0, while Longwood drops to 0-2.
After a scoreless regulation and first overtime period, Liberty’s Adrian Bumbut (Sr., F, Zalau, Romania) was pulled down in the box for a penalty shot attempt at 7:40 of the second overtime. Roberts (R-Sr., F, Trincity, Trinidad), who had several good chances go off posts on the night, put the penalty kick home in the right corner of the net moments later for a 1-0 win.
Neither team found many scoring opportunities in the contest’s tightly-played first 25 minutes. Longwood saw a free kick off a Liberty wall deflected away by Flames goalkeeper Kevin Mahan (Sr., Waterford, Mich.), while Liberty would get a chance when the Lancer keeper Brant Youmans made a play on a loose ball in the right corner of the box, but could not take advantage.
The last 20 minutes of the half was much the same as neither team could mount a sustained attack against strong defensive play on both sides.
After a scoreless first half, the Flames got the first chance of the second as off a cross on a direct kick, a header by Roberts hit off the cross bar and sailed high.
Liberty then began to press the attack, making Longwood keeper Youmans make several saves over a five-minute period.
Keeping control of play, the Flames out shot the Lancers, 15-1, but were unable to break through for a goal as several shots went off goal posts in the second half. With 20 seconds left, Liberty came close on a corner kick, but a header off the kick hit the cross bar.
The two teams continued scoreless through the first overtime before Roberts provided the Flames with the golden goal.
On the night, the Flames out shot the Lancers, 19-7, while also having the advantage in corner kicks, 8-2.
Mahan made two saves in the Liberty net, while Youmans, who was tested often in the contest’s second half, made 10 on the night for Longwood.
Liberty returns home on Friday for its first home contest of the season. The Flames will host Gardner-Webb at the Liberty Soccer Field. Match time is set for 7 p.m.
