FARMVILLE, Va. – A pair of second-half goals backed by the go-ahead header from Mikel Abando in the 66th minute lifted Longwood to a 3-2 comeback win over Robert Morris Saturday afternoon at the Longwood Athletics Complex.
 
Abando and fellow newcomer Jeremy Jaquier pitched in throughout a second half that saw Longwood score a pair of goals that were separated by 14 minutes to help the Lancers (2-2-0) take the first-ever meeting against Robert Morris (0-4-1).
 
"I'm proud of the guys resolve and determination after the first half to comeback with a pair of goals to get the win," said Longwood head coach Jon Atkinson.
 
Abando's go-ahead header in the 66th minute on a set piece delivery from Markus Gronli was his second goal in his first four games of his Longwood career, as it was part of a performance which saw Longwood's 19 newcomers combine for seven of the team's eight points.
 
"It was a great corner taken by Markus and I just saw the ball, tried to get a head on it," Abando said. "I'm just glad that I could help the team get a win."
 
The goal from Abando came less than 15 minutes after Denzel Speed setup Jaquier in the box to equalize the game less than seven minutes into the second 45 minutes.
 
"We talked at the half about not playing to our potential and just being too hard on ourselves," Atkinson said. "As a group, we were able to calm down and play attacking football. We put ourselves to score both goals in the second half by moving the ball with more purpose."
 
The Lancers' second-half comeback performance was aided by the return of senior captain Willy Miezan, who played 37 minutes and had a game-high five shots in his first game action in two seasons.
 
"I had a lot of emotions that I carried with me but I tried not to think about it too much," Miezan said. "The fans were great today. I had some family and a lot of friends here that meant a lot to me."
 
Miezan, who ranked among the top 10 in the nation with 13 goals in his redshirt-freshman season in 2015, returned after suffering a pair of ACL injuries that sidelined him for the last two seasons.
 
"It's been a long journey back and it was a great feeling to be back and touch the ball again," Miezan said.
 
Despite missing two straight seasons, Miezan was strong on the ball, creating four scoring chances with perhaps his best opportunity in the 78th minute before Robert Morris goalkeeper Winter Fondi came up with a pair of highlight-reel saves.
 
"Willy is a special guy and a special player," Atkinson said. "Every team needs someone like Willy. He gives you a galvanizing boost, he's a quality player on the field."
 
The two teams combined for three goals in the opening 10 minutes of the game, as Ander Extanix's goal 47 seconds into the game gave Longwood the early lead.
 
However, Zac Sherman and Owen Pearce responded for the Colonials, scoring one minute, seven seconds apart to hand Robert Morris a 2-1 lead after the opening 45 minutes.
 
Jacob Reimers earned his second win in goal, as Longwood's backline of Shane Curtis, Jonas Kalchner, Aj Kmeic, Ryan Fleming, Denzel Speed and Conner Yurcisin limited Robert Morris to eight shots. 
 
Fondi made six saves on 19 shots for the Colonials.
 
After playing three straight at home, Longwood will play its next four games away from Farmville. That stretch begins Tuesday, Sept. 11 at William & Mary. The opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
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