Saribekyan hat trick lifts Lancers over Bucs

JOHNSON CITY — Longwood forward Levon Saribekyan had a hat trick, the final goal off a penalty kick with 5:11 remaining, to lift the Lancers to a 4-3 victory over East Tennessee State on Saturday afternoon at Summers-Taylor Stadium. Saribekyan, a 6-foot-4 freshman midfielder, scored in the 59th and 65th minutes as the Lancers prevailed under extremely hot and humid conditions. The start of the match was delayed 90 minutes for a storm, and then the sun came out and was beating down on the field. But, it was his last goal that had ETSU fans heated up. The Lancers (5-0) were awarded a penalty kick after a call was overturned by a video review. Saribekyan took advantage of the situation and the Lancers remained unbeaten and untied on the season. "I don't understand. We will have to look at the video again," ETSU coach Allan Vital said. "More than that, there was the flag that went up and the defenders stopped running. Some strange calls there." ETSU (1-3) had taken the lead late in the first half. Down by one, the Bucs' Jaime Carillo scored the equalizer off his right foot in the 40th minute. Gavin Dick and Elliot Edwards assisted on the goal. Less than five minutes later, the Bucs grabbed the advantage when Matias Delellis booted one in the left corner of the goal. The Lancers (5-0) had taken the lead in the 27th minute off Magnus Hansen's header which was assisted by Brando Bedolla. Longwood tied the contest in the 59th minute when Levon Saribekyan came through at the pile for a short boot to the top of the goal that made its way past ETSU keeper Noe' Delmotte. Saribekyan put the Lancers ahead with another short boot off Bedolla's second assist. Edwards tied the game 3-3 on a free kick in the 76th minute. It was an evenly played match with 14 shots by each team. ETSU held a slight 6-5 advantage in corner kicks. "We battled. They're a good team, but let them out at times," Vital said. "We made some mistakes they were able to take advantage of, especially their first goal. But, we'll keep improving. That wasn't a bad effort at all."