August 21, 2007
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood enters the 2007 women’s soccer campaign with lots of excitement and enthusiasm surrounding the program after finishing 11-5-3 during 2006, the most wins for the squad during the recent four-year NCAA Division I Reclassification. The reclassification is now complete, though, and the Lancers are competing this year with full Division I certification and eligibility. Under the guidance of 14th-year head coach Todd Dyer (146-80-12), a 1993 Longwood graduate, the Lancers return 16 letterwinners from a team that was 7-1-1 at home last year and attained the ninth 10-win season in the 13-year history of the program. Coach Dyer will be aided again this season by fourth-year assistant Steve Brdarski along with graduate student assistant Heather Storrie, a former four-year team member and goalkeeper.
“This season presents a unique opportunity for our team in that it’s our first competing as a fully certified NCAA Division I program,” said Dyer. “We’ve performed better each season throughout the four-year transition and things really culminated for us last year with an 11-5-3 record. Well, now it’s official and time to show what we’re all about and that we’re here to stay.
“In terms of the on-field product, I really believe we’re fielding one of our strongest teams ever. We’re also facing one of our toughest schedules, with opponents coming from a wide range of conferences, so we’ll be tested this season from beginning to end. We’ll also travel across the country to participate in our conference tournament. I’m confident the quality and depth of our roster will see us through.”
Longwood has a solid five-member senior class that includes defender Aynsley Birkner/Virginia Beach (First Colonial) (2g), forward Kristina Reed/Spotsylvania (Chancellor) (1a), defender Brittany Stubbs/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne), goalkeeper Anne Whitmore/Charlottesville (Western Albemarle) (1459 minutes, 0.93 gaa, 4 shutouts), and midfielder Katie Young/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) (1g, 3a). Birkner has started every match (54) of her Lancer career while Whitmore and Young each have made 35 career starts. Whitmore also ranks among the top five in every career goalkeeping statistic.
“As is always the case, our seniors will set the tone for the season,” explained Dyer. “Anne will be a real strength in goal for us, especially her ability to field crosses and dominate in the air. Aynsley, a captain, has started every single game for us in central defense since she got here and this consistency and durability has really strengthened our back line. Katie, our other senior captain, has become a real engine for us as a defensive central midfielder, but this year we’re looking to provide her a little bit more of an attacking role. Brittany can play any position across our back four, and Kristina will most likely move from the back to our front line this year, so we have some options in several areas.”
Four juniors provide good experience and depth to the roster, and include defender Ingrid Hale/Littleton, Colo. (Chatfield), midfielder Cassie Lynn/Virginia Beach (Kellam) (4a), along with defenders Beth Shade/Mechanicsville, Pa. (Cedar Cliff) and Maddie Stevens/Charles Town, W.Va. (Jefferson) (1g, 1a). Stevens started every match a year ago, while Lynn (15) and Hale (11) combined for 26 starts.
“Maddie, our first player to be named captain as a junior, will be another cornerstone for us in central defense,” said Dyer. “Cassie will continue to battle for us as an attacking central midfielder and we’re hoping to see all of her hard work pay off in terms of scoring goals. Ingrid gained tons of experience last fall as a starter at outside back, so we want to see how that translates into this season. Beth has become one of our most versatile players and will compete for her minutes on our back line.”
A large sophomore class in terms of numbers (eight) also brings lots of talent to the field for Longwood. They are redshirt forward Ashlee McConnell/Carlisle, Pa. (Carlisle), midfielder Brenda Cary/Bristow (Brentsville) (1g, 1a), forwards Michelle DeSieno/Centreville (Chantilly) (2g, 1a) and Sarah Fening/Manassas (Battlefield) (5g, 2a), midfielder Kaylyn Mahon/Spring Grove, Pa. (Spring Grove) (6g, 3a), forward Tia Nardella/Brookline, Mass. (Brookline) (3g, 2a), redshirt-freshman goalkeeper Marcia Biddle/Woodbridge (Gar-Field), and transfer defender Laura Miller/Virginia Beach (Kellam). Mahon started every match last season and was voted the school’s freshman female athlete of the year last spring. Fening made 10 starts, and McConnell (2g) started 11 matches two years ago before receiving a medical hardship waiver during 2006 while recovering from a knee injury, while Miller made 13 starts at Rhode Island a year ago before transferring to campus for the spring semester.
“Kaylyn is a tremendous athlete who started last season as an outside left back and ended it as one of our top scoring forwards, so it should be a lot of fun seeing how this season unfolds for her and the team,” explained Dyer. “Sarah is another consistent producer for us up top and has a knack for scoring critical goals in critical moments of the game. Tia will continue to give opposing defenders fits with her explosive pace and slashing runs. Michelle has some of the trickiest feet on the team and is coming off of an impressive spring season up top. Brenda is a steady performer in central midfielder fighting for an even bigger role this fall. Ashlee is fully fit after medical redshirt season, so we’re hoping for her to just explode and make up for lost time. Marcia goes into her first fall season willing and able to compete for some significant time in goal. Laura joined us in the spring and became an immediate factor as an outside back and could easily be a starter for us this fall.”
The seven newcomers to the program are midfielder Katie Devlin/Fairfax (W.T. Woodson), defender Kayla Huggins/North Haven, Conn. (North Haven), midfielder Joanna Montefinese/Howell, N.J. (Howell), forward Alex Myers/Stafford (Colonial Forge), forward Halie Romasco/Yorktown (Grafton), defender Lauren Trizna/Manassas (Osbourn Park), and forward Courtney Wright/Virginia Beach (Bishop Sullivan Catholic).
“Kayla combines pace and athleticism and could easily play herself into a starting role as an outside defender,” said Dyer. Katie will most likely play a defensive central midfield role for us but she could also see time in the middle of our back line. Joanna is a true creative midfielder who could have an immediate impact. Alex is an attacking player who can be effective as a forward or midfielder. Courtney is a feisty forward who could really give us a spark up top. Lauren will be a physical presence as one of our central defenders. Halie has explosive change of pace and will really add to our corps of forwards.”
Longwood has 10 home games scheduled this year at the Athletics Complex, including matches against fellow United Soccer Conference (USC) members Delaware State, NJIT, and Utah Valley State. Other home contests include Virginia Tech, Radford, Richmond, Appalachian State, Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, and South Dakota State. Road games will be played at USC members Howard and South Carolina State, along with matches at Liberty, VMI, Francis Marion, and Wofford. The Lancers will also play two neutral contests in Annapolis, Maryland against Rider and Towson. The USC has only six members this year after IPFW, North Dakota State, and South Dakota State each departed for The Summit League, while NJIT has joined the women’s soccer-only conference alignment. This year’s post-season USC Tournament, November 7-11, will be hosted by Utah Valley State College in Orem, Utah.
Longwood will also play a pair of preseason exhibitions on the road at Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) members Old Dominion (August 21) and VCU (August 25). The Lancers officially open the campaign August 31 at Wofford in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and this year’s home opener will take place September 2 as Radford visits the Athletics Complex at 7 p.m..
