Sophomore midfielder Oliver Curry’s first career goal was GW’s game-winner in a 2-0, non-conference finale victory over Longwood Tuesday afternoon.
The Colonials also recorded their third consecutive shutout, and fourth on the year, with the two-goal decision, and extended their winning-streak to five games—the program’s longest undefeated stretch since a six-game win-streak in 2011.
“Defensively we’ve gotten a little bit better every game,” head coach Craig Jones said. “We made a couple of different changes to the starting group today, but they kept a clean sheet…We just need to keep it going.”
Freshman goalkeeper Thor Arne Hofs received the start in GW’s final out-of-league contest, and recorded two saves on the day en route to his second career shutout.
A quiet first half ended with the score knotted at zero. The Lancers (5-6-0) outshot the Colonials (7-5-0, 3-0 Atlantic 10) 4-3 in the frame but neither offensive side could find the back of the net.
Early in the second frame, the teams remained in a dead heat. Star Longwood forward Willy Miezan, who has a team-high 8 goals on the year, had some chances but only recorded one shot in the game.
Meanwhile, GW’s offense found a way to produce. In the 64th minute, Curry capitalized on one of the Colonials’ many second-half chances, swiftly putting away a shot in the box. Freshman forward Alastair Berry also recorded his first career assist on the go-ahead goal.
“One of the main things right now is that we’re all getting along and enjoy playing together, and when we have issues we communicate them,” Curry said. “In practice the defense has been working harder than ever, as well as the rest of the team, and I think there’s just really good chemistry at the moment.”
Just 56 seconds later, sophomore forward Christian Lawal received a sweet serve from Curry in the box and put away a header to the right of the keeper to give GW a 2-0 lead. Lawal’s fourth goal on the year makes him the team’s second-leading scorer, already improving upon to his rookie campaign total of three goals.
While the win won’t help the Colonials in the A-10 standings, the determining factor in whether GW will reach the postseason for the first time since 2011, Jones thinks maintaining the team’s recent momentum was crucial.
“Today was one of those games where it was non-conference but we obviously didn’t want to lose the game. When you’ve got momentum you’ve got to keep it going,” Jones said. “It was important we didn’t overlook this game, and stuck with what we’ve done well in the last three of four games.”
The Colonials resume A-10 play Saturday afternoon at home against Rhode Island at 1 p.m.
