Longwood University Athletics issued the following announcement on Sept. 5
It may have only been her third career start, but Longwood goalkeeper Jordan Horacek played like a seasoned veteran.
In her first career shutout, the Longwood senior and recently-minted starting goalkeeper matched Longwood's Division I record with 13 saves to anchor the Lancers (1-4-1) to a 0-0 double-overtime draw at Western Carolina (3-2-1) Sunday afternoon at the Catamount Athletic Complex.
Horacek, who improved to 2-1 since moving into the starting role against Richmond on Aug. 29, made 12 of those saves in regulation to send the Lancers to their second overtime battle of the season. She came through with another stop in extra time and preserved the game in the closing minutes as well, corralling Catamount forward Kirsten Hahn's header off the post to kill Western Carolina's final potential scoring sequence.
Horacek's final save put her atop an elite list of Longwood goalkeepers, tying the program's Division I single-game saves record set by former teammate and All-Big South goalkeeper Madison Van Dyke against Charlotte on Aug. 30, 2019.
"We dealt with a lot of pressure defensively against a very strong WCU team and still earned our first shutout of the season," said Longwood head coach Todd Dyer. "We had a few moments of solid possession and attacking soccer, but we are going to need a lot more of that moving forward – not only to win games but to relieve some of that defensive pressure. That result, however, shows a lot about the fight and character of this team."
Longwood's character prevailed throughout, as the Lancers withstood a 28-shot onslaught from the Southern Conference's third-leading scoring team and held on for their first shutout of the season. The Catamounts put 13 of those on goal, but Horacek was there to stop every one, making seven saves in the first half and five more in the second. Forward Maggie Lloyd led that effort for Western Carolina with five shots off the bench, while All-Horizon League graduate transfer Valentine Pursey also put two shots on goal, including one in overtime that Horacek handled.
Despite Western Carolina's high-volume attack, however, Longwood countered plenty and matched a season high with five shots on goal. But Catamount keeper Melody Mezzina ensured Western Carolina's shutout streak would continue, matching Horacek's clean sheet to make it three straight scoreless performances for the Catamounts.
Sunday's draw continues a years-long trend of overtime success for the Lancers, who have emerged unbeaten in seven of their past eight overtime games dating back to 2019. Their lone loss during that span came in this year's season-opener at Wofford, which saw the Terriers score in the first extra period to deal the Lancers a 2-1 defeat.
Now three games into a six-game road swing, Longwood will continue its tour of the East Coast with a trip to UMBC this Thursday, Sept. 9. Another road game at Commonwealth rival Liberty follows on Sept. 12 before the Lancers open Big South play and cap that road stretch at Winthrop on Sept. 18.
Original source can be found here.
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