September 24, 2010

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University took an exciting 1-0 women's soccer shutout victory past visiting Liberty University of the Big South Conference Friday night at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. Senior Lauren Trizna|Manassas (Osbourn Park) scored the game-winner in the 72nd minute for the Lancers (7-4) who won their third-straight match, all via a shutout, against the Flames (3-5-2) from Lynchburg. Longwood will return to action on Tuesday, September 28, back on the road at Charleston Southern University, its third-straight Big South opponent, in Charleston, South Carolina beginning at 3 p.m.

Longwood and Liberty battled to a scoreless opening period with the match 0-0 at the intermission. The Lancers had a narrow 4-3 advantage in first-half shots, though the Flames had a 2-1 edge in attempts on-goal. The hosts best shot at a goal during the first period was at 33:29 with an attempt by sophomore Lindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson) that was saved, while graduate keeper Marcia Biddle|Woodbridge (Gar-Field) stopped both shots on target by the visitors.

It remained scoreless well into the second half, though Longwood put lots of pressure on Liberty early with five shots in the first eight minutes of the half, including three on-goal, but unfortunately each was saved. The Lancers finally moved the net at 71:08 when a foul against the Flames resulted in a free kick on the left side of the field by junior Kacie Oliver|Portsmouth, R.I. (Portsmouth) from about 45 yards. Oliver bent a perfect ball into the box that Trizna was able to head into the goal off the crossbar for what proved to be the game-winner and difference in the contest. A defender, Trizna had moved forward to score four goals this season, while Oliver now has three assists on the campaign.

“Liberty is always one of our toughest games, it's a healthy rivalry, and we always play tight games against each other,” said 17th-year head coach Todd Dyer '93. “The soccer is not always the prettiest but tonight we were able to find a result. Triz just had an amazing goal, and we're happy to get the win even though we had to do it the hard way.”

Longwood took a 14-6 advantage in shots, including 10-3 in the second half, and had a 7-2 edge in attempts on-goal, while taking a 7-3 advantage on corner kicks as well. Biddle played the duration in front of the net for the Lancers with two saves to earn her third shutout this season, and second-straight. Ashley Nyholt played the entire match in front of the net for Liberty with six saves.

It was the 10th meeting between the two schools in the sport of women's soccer as Liberty continues to lead the all-time series at 6-3-1. Longwood, however, has won three of the past four matches against the Flames.