CHARLESTON, S.C. – A cold, windy day slowed down Longwood's rapid-fire offense Sunday against Charleston Southern, but the Lancers' stifling backline answered the call.
 
In a road showdown dominated more by 52-degree weather and 10 mile-per-hour winds than scoring, Longwood's staunch backfield held strong and helped the Lancers (1-0-2) grind out a scoreless double-overtime draw against the Buccaneers at CSU Soccer Field.
 
The scoreless draw kept Longwood as one of just two remaining unbeaten teams in the Big South this season and saw the Lancers hold Charleston Southern (0-1-1) to just three shots on goal during the 110-minute marathon. All-Big South senior goalkeeper Madison Van Dyke saved all three of those to preserve her second straight shutout, including a diving deflection of Bri Robinson's long-range attempt in the 72nd minute and another close-range attempt by Emma Ryan in the 80th minute.
 
Meanwhile, the Lancers – who entered the game ranked second nationally in shots per game and fourth in shots on goal per game – peppered 14 shots on Charleston Southern's net and put six of those on goal, but Buccaneer keeper Jenna Moran matched her Longwood counterpart by turning all of those away.
 
"We are pleased with our effort defensively, earning our second consecutive shutout and our first on the road," said Longwood head coach Todd Dyer. "On the other side of the ball it was a scrappy game, making it hard to settle into an attacking rhythm that we like the play at.
 
"We still created enough chances to win, and a couple of them in close that we'd like to have back. We have plenty to learn from, and still haven't been beaten so we will continue to build and look forward."
 
Longwood had multiple opportunities in front of the net early, hitting the cross bar once and sailing two others over the top of the net from inside the box. Moran also single-handedly saved her team from falling into an early deficit when she knocked senior defender Carrie Reaver's long-range free kick just over the top of the goal with a well-timed, one-handed save at the top of the net.
 
Charleston Southern's scoring opportunities were far fewer thanks to a Lancer backfield that included a pair of 110-minute performances from senior Carrie Reaver and junior Kylie Cahill. Those two, along with a 95-minute performance from three-level contributor Emily Mothersbaugh and a controlling effort in the midfield from Madison Hommey and Kiersten Yuhas, helped Longwood hold its third straight opponent to fewer than four shots on goal.
 
The double-overtime draw is Longwood's second on the road this season, following the 1-1 deadlock at Big South foe USC Upstate in the season opener on Feb. 21. With a record that also includes a 3-0 home victory over Gardner-Webb on Feb. 28, Longwood joins 4-0-1 High Point as the only Big South teams without a loss this season.  
 
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