July 13, 2005

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University 12th-year women’s soccer head coach Todd Dyer ‘93 has announced a 17-match schedule for the upcoming 2005 campaign. The Lancers will be competing during year three of the University’s four-year NCAA Division I Reclassification toward official Division I Certification in September 2007.

“This year’s schedule is challenging, but fair, and we’ll see it as an opportunity to really get this proud program moving further in the right direction,” said Dyer. “This is an exciting time for Longwood as we get closer to Division I certification, and this year’s women’s soccer team will do it’s part to help lead the way.”

Longwood will have conference affiliation in women’s soccer this year as the Lancers will be members of the newly-formed United Soccer Conference that includes, in addition to LU, Delaware State, Howard, IPFW, South Carolina State, and Utah Valley State. The conference will have two divisions as Longwood will compete in the East with Howard and South Carolina State, and the West will include Delaware State, IPFW, and Utah Valley State. The top two teams from each division will compete in the conference championship.

“We’re very excited about our membership in the new United Soccer Conference, which will allow the student-athletes on this team the opportunity to compete for a post-season championship,” stated Dyer.

The schedule this year will include eight home games during the regular season before the season-ending United Soccer Conference Tournament hosted by IPFW in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The schedule is highlighted by six matches against Big South Conference members: Liberty, Radford, Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, High Point, and North Carolina-Asheville. The Lancers will also play Big East member institution South Florida in Macon, Georgia, while the conference contests will include Howard and South Carolina State.

Longwood (5-13 in 2004) returns six starters among 18 letterwinners for the upcoming women’s soccer season. The Lancers open the year August 26 at Campbell University in North Carolina beginning at 7 p.m..

2005 Longwood University Women’s Soccer Schedule
August            
18    @East Carolina (Exhibition), 3:00
26    @Campbell, 7:00
28    Radford, 1:00
September
3    @The Citadel, 1:00    
9    @Western Carolina, 6:00
11    vs. South Florida in Macon, Ga., 12:00
14    @Elon, 4:00
17    Appalachian State, 3:00
23    @Maryland-Baltimore County, 4:00
26    @Liberty, 7:00
29    Coastal Carolina, 7:00
October
8    Francis Marion, 3:00
11    Mount St. Mary’s, 4:00
14    South Carolina State*, 4:00
17    @High Point, 7:00
23    North Carolina-Asheville, 2:00
27    Charleston Southern, 7:00
30    @Howard*, 4:00
November
11-13    @United Soccer Conference Tournament hosted by IPFW in Fort Wayne, Indiana
*United Soccer Conference Match