November 3, 2008

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University claimed the 2008 United Soccer Conference (USC) Tournament Championship Monday night, defeating Utah Valley University 1-0 at the Athletics Complex in Farmville.  Sophomore Alex Myers/Stafford (Colonial Forge) scored the game-winning goal at 11:53, with an assist from junior Brenda Cary/Bristow (Brentsville).  The #2 seed and tournament host Lancers finish their season with a final record of 10-7-2, while the #1 seed Wolverines finished 11-7-1.  It is the first-ever NCAA Division I conference tournament title won by Longwood, in its second year of DI eligibility.
   
“I'm happy for the team, especially our seniors, with how much they have put into this during the season and throughout their careers,” said 15th-year head coach Todd Dyer '93 (166-96-15).  “We knew we had to get that first goal, and fortunately we did, and then held it together defensively -- bending about as far as you could go but not breaking.  It means that much more to win it against such a quality and talented team as Utah Valley.  We're just really excited for the program and the University.”
   
Longwood scored the decisive and only goal of the closely-played match early at 11:53 when Myers took a pass from Cary outside the box and beat her defender before firing a shot from about 28 yards just under the crossbar and over the keeper's head into the net.  It proved to be the only attempt on-goal for the Lancers as Utah Valley had a 4-1 first-half advantage, though redshirt-sophomore keeper Marcia Biddle/Woodbridge (Gar-Field) posted the four saves to keep the score 1-0 at the intermission.
   
The Wolverines continued with pressure during much of the second half as well, placing five more shots on-goal during the period.  Biddle, however, stopped all five attempts though none bigger than on a point-blank header by Ashley Burdett at 75:21 from a corner kick opportunity for the visitors.  The victory was crowd-pleasing for the vocal and boisterous 325 fans in attendance as the hosts avenged a 3-0 loss at Utah Valley just nine days ago; avenging a 3-2 setback to the Wolverines in last year's USC?Tournament finale as well in a contest also played in Utah.
   
Utah Valley took a 15-4 advantage in shots, including 9-1 in attempts on-goal, and the corner kicks favored the Wolverines 10-1.  Biddle played the duration in front of the net for Longwood with nine saves for her eighth, and the team's 10th, shutout this season.  Mallory Schott went the distance in front of the net for UVU.  The Lancers and Wolverines have not split four matches over the past two seasons, each winning on their own field.

Longwood's 10 wins this season mark the third consecutive year that the program has attained at least 10 victories, and is the 11th 10-win campaign in the 15-year history of the program.