8.22.2011

2011 Digital Team Guide

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University opened its 2011 women's soccer campaign this past weekend, August 19-21. The Lancers (1-0-1) battled to a 0-0 double-overtime tie on the road at the University of Richmond last Friday night at Robins Stadium in Richmond, before returning home to take a 2-0 shutout victory past visiting Howard University on Sunday night at the Athletics Complex in Farmville during The GAME 2.0. Longwood will play just one match this week, back on the road in North Carolina at Elon University of the Southern Conference on Thursday, August 25, at 7 p.m.

Recapping Richmond, Howard Matches
The Lancers and Spiders played evenly through 90 minutes of regulation and the first of two 10-minute extra periods before the contest ended at the decision of the match officials due to weather concerns. The second additional period was less than a minute in when stopped due to lightning in the area. Junior keeper Kyra Byron|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) played the duration in front of the net for the Lancers with eight saves and no goals allowed. Against Howard, junior midfielder Nikki Glisson|Mechanicsville (Hanover) scored the game-winning goal in the 57th minute, and redshirt-senior midfielder Alex Myers|Stafford (Colonial Forge) added an insurance goal in the 88th minute. The contest was played before a record-crowd of 1,839 in a match designated The GAME 2.0 (Greatest Athletics March Ever) that included tailgating, a pep rally introducing the school's new Mascot, and a march from campus to the soccer facility prior to the opening kick against the visiting Bison. Byron posted her second shutout in as many matches.

A Look At Elon
Elon is coached by fourth-year head coach Chris Neal, and finished 12-8-1 a year ago, including a 6-0 road loss at Longwood during 2010. The Phoenix, members of the Southern Conference, return eight starters among 16 letterwinners and have added six newcomers to their program. Elon is led by sophomore Chelsey Stark, the team's top returning scorer with six goals and four assists totaling 16 points last season. The Phoenix opened 2011 with a scoreless tie at home against VCU on August 21. Longwood is 2-4 all-time versus Elon.

Twelfth For Number 12
Fifth-year senior midfielder Alex Myers|Stafford (Colonial Forge) tallied her 12th career goal during the 2-0 win past Howard on August 21; ironically, she wears uniform number 12. Myers missed the entire 2010 season due to injury, and was granted a medical hardship waiver. She has started 33 of 47 career matches, posting 12 goals and five assists for 21 points.

No Place Like Home
With the home-opening shutout against Howard, Longwood is now 36-10-1 (.777) on its home turf at the Athletics Complex since beginning competition at the facility in 2006. The Lancers finished 8-2 at home last season, and are 29-9 (.763) at the Athletics Complex since attaining its NCAA Division I certification and eligibility for 2007.

It Must Be The Name
Longwood has four team members with the same first name: Kelsey. They include sophomore midfielder Kelsey Pardue|Henrico (Hermitage), along with freshmen Kelsey Lucas|Fredericksburg (Fredericksburg Christian) (forward), Kelsey McDonald|Kennett Square, Pa. (Unionville) (forward/defender), and Kelsey Trace|Gainesville (Battlefield) (midfielder). A similar-sounding name on the Lancers' roster adds to the uniqueness: sophomore midfielder Chelsea Walter|South Riding (Freedom). Additionally, Kelsey Lucas has a twin sister, and since Kelsey was taken, her name is Carley Lucas|Fredericksburg (Fredericksburg Christian) (defender).

The Coaching Staff
Longwood is coached by 18th-year head coach Todd Dyer '93 who is assisted by associate head coach Steve Brdarski, in his eighth season, along with director of soccer operations Lindsey Williams and graduate assistant Marcia Biddle '10. Dyer is the only coach in the program's history as he has attained an overall coaching record of 187-112-17 (.619) over 17-plus years, including 14 winning seasons.

2011 Captains
Fifth-year senior defender Katie Devlin|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson) will serve as a team captain for the second consecutive season, while senior defender/midfielder Kacie Oliver|Portsmouth, R.I. (Portsmouth) and junior forward Lindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson) are in the team leadership roles for the first time. The veteran and talented trio has combined for 148 career starts, 27 goals, 12 assists, and 66 points.

Up Next
Longwood will be busy next week with three matches, including two on the road: at Liberty University of the Big South Conference on Monday, August 29, in Lynchburg at 7 p.m., and at East Tennessee State University of the Atlantic Sun Conference on Friday, September 2, in Johnson City, Tennessee at 4 p.m. The Lancers close the demanding week at home, hosting Appalachian State University of the Southern Conference on Sunday, Sept. 4, at the Athletics Complex in Farmville at 2 p.m.