October 15, 2010

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University took a 3-0 women's soccer shutout victory past visiting Francis Marion University Friday evening at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. Redshirt-junior Katie Devlin|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 24th minute for the Lancers (9-6) who won their eighth-straight match at home against the visiting Patriots (3-12-2). Longwood will return to action on Sunday afternoon, October 17, at the New Jersey Institute of Technology of the Great West Conference in Newark, New Jersey beginning at 1 p.m.

Longwood scored the only goal it would need at 23:29 when Devlin moved forward to score on a header off a corner kick from senior Jessica Varela|Midlothian (Clover Hill). The Lancers made it 2-0 at the intermission after sophomore Lindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson) tallied her team-leading 14th goal this season at 32:09 as she beat a couple of defenders before a successful shot to the upper right corner from the middle of the box. LU added a final goal in the 68th minute when sophomore Natalie Massey|Virginia Beach (Landstown) moved forward and scored her first career goal on a header from a free kick by junior Kacie Oliver|Portsmouth, R.I. (Portsmouth) at 67:53. It was Devlin's first goal this season as well, while Ottavio was tied for fourth in Division I goals this week, and tied for eighth nationally in points.

“I thought we started the match a little bit sluggish,” said 17th-year head coach Todd Dyer '93. “The goal by Katie got us going and we settled down and controlled the play a lot better. It was nice to see Natalie score and provide another spark for us as well. I'd like to see us start these next few matches a little better offensively.”

Longwood had an 14-5 advantage in shots, including 9-4 in attempts on-goal, and had a 9-1 edge on corner kicks. Graduate keeper Marcia Biddle|Woodbridge (Gar-Field) played the first 70:47 in front of the net for the Lancers with two saves, while sophomore Kyra Byron|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) played the final 19:13 with two saves and the combined shutout. It was the team's eighth shutout in 15 contests this fall. Lauren Vetock played the first 76:27 for Francis Marion with six saves, while Casey Durham played the final 13:33 with no saves.

It was the eighth meeting between the two schools in the sport of women's soccer as Longwood won only its second-ever match against Francis Marion. The Patriots continue to lead the series at 6-2.