October 27, 2006
BOX SCORE
ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- Longwood University took a 4-0 women’s soccer road victory at United Soccer Conference (USC) East Division opponent South Carolina State Friday night in South Carolina. The shutout was the eighth win in 10 matches for the Lancers who completed their regular season with a record of 11-5-2, 2-1 in the USC, while the Bulldogs dropped to 3-13, 0-2 in the USC. Longwood will participate in the USC Tournament next weekend, November 2-5, in Washington, D.C. hosted by Howard University.
At SCSU, Longwood scored three first-half goals en route to the decisive decision. Senior Vanessa Congdon/Charlotte, N.C. (Charlotte Catholic) opened the scoring just 1:38 into the match when she found the back of the net on a corner-kick opportunity, assisted by classmate Tiffany Crane/Virginia Beach (Kellam). Another senior, Anna Gravely/Virginia Beach (Frank W. Cox), followed with another goal at 15:25 on a 30-yard blast, assisted by junior Kristina Reed/Spotsylvania (Chancellor). Junior Aynsley Birkner/Virginia Beach (First Colonial) added the third goal on a header from another corner, again assisted by Crane who now totals six on the season and 20 for her career to rank in a tie for second all-time. Freshman Tia Nardella/Brookline, Mass. (Brookline) finished the scoring in the 90th-minute with an assist from classmate Sarah Fening/Manassas (Battlefield), beating the keeper after Fening slipped the ball through nicely on the feed.
“This group has set the new standard for our program by earning 11 victories against a Division I schedule,” said 13th-year head coach Todd Dyer ‘93 (146-80-11). “We’ll try to carry this momentum into the post-season and win a conference tournament championship.”
Longwood took a 30-5 advantage in shots, and 9-0 in corner kicks. Junior keeper Anne Whitmore/Charlottesville (Western Albemarle) (45:00) played the first half in front of the net for the Lancers, while redshirt-sophomore Emily Grove/Farmville (Prince Edward) (45:00) finished the match in goal with three saves. South Carolina State’s Ciji Sims (90:00) went the distance for the Bulldogs with 13 saves.
