9.5.2011

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University played three double-overtime women's soccer matches this past week, earning one tie before falling by one goal in two matches to close the week. The Lancers (1-3-2) battled to a 1-1 deadlock on the road at Liberty University of the Big South Conference on August 29 in Lynchburg, but fell 2-1 on the road at East Tennessee State University of the Atlantic Sun Conference on September 2 in Johnson City, Tennessee, before a 1-0 setback to visiting Appalachian State University of the Southern Conference on Sept. 4 at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. Longwood will play two matches this week, hosting Tennessee Tech University of the Ohio Valley Conference on Friday, Sept. 9, at the Athletics Complex in Farmville at 7 p.m., and back on the road at in-state opponent George Mason University of the Colonial Athletic Association on Sunday, Sept. 11, in Fairfax at 2 p.m.

Recapping Liberty, East Tennessee State, Appalachian State
Longwood and Liberty battled through 110 minutes with one goal each as freshman Kelsey McDonald|Kennett Square, Pa. (Unionville) scored the game-tying goal in the 85th minute for the visiting Lancers against the host Flames who had scored in the fifth minute on a penalty kick. Junior keeper Kyra Byron|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) played the duration in front of the net with four saves. Longwood and ETSU played 108:40 before the Bucs scored the decisive goal with just 1:20 remaining. Junior Nikki Glisson|Mechanicsville (Hanover) scored in the 18th minute for the Lancers, assisted by junior captain Lindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson). Byron went the distance with five saves. Longwood and ASU played 108:26 before the Mountaineers scored the lone goal of the match in the 109th minute. Byron played the duration once again for the Lancers with five saves.

Head Coach Todd Dyer
"Looking back on the week, my feeling is that soccer can be a beautiful and cruel game at the same time. Three overtime games in a row will certainly test a team's resolve, so we just have to be sure and apply some of the tough lessons we've learned as we move forward. We're playing very hard and we're defending well for the most part, we just have to find a way to finish the chances we're creating and get some goals on the scoreboard. We're definitely competitive and tough to beat in all of our games, the key now is to take it a step further and start earning some of the results that we're capable of."

A Look At Tennessee Tech, George Mason
Tennessee Tech is coached by second-year head coach Daniel Brizard, and is currently 2-3-1 after a 1-0 loss to New Mexico State University on Sept. 4. The Golden Eagles have been led by the junior trio of Sarah Gawthrop, Kerri Reid, and Jacquie Watkins with two goals each this season. Longwood and TTU are meeting for just the second time in women's soccer as the Lancers took a 2-0 road win during 2009. George Mason is coached by ninth-year head coach Diane Drake, and is currently 0-3-1 after a 4-1 home loss to UNC Greensboro Sept. 2. The Patriots have been led by senior Zoe Doherty, redshirt-sophomore Jazmin Cardoso, and freshman Kelly Pizzingrilli with one goal each this fall. Longwood is 1-0 all-time versus GMU, taking a 1-0 double-overtime home win during 2008.

Leading The Lancers | Season Statistics
Junior Nikki Glisson|Mechanicsville (Hanover) leads Longwood through six matches with her two goals, followed by fifth-year senior Alex Myers|Stafford (Colonial Forge) and freshman Kelsey McDonald|Kennett Square, Pa. (Unionville) with one goal each. Junior captain Lindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson) adds two assists, while sophomore Kelsey Pardue|Henrico (Hermitage) has one assist. Junior keeper Kyra Byron|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) has played all 608:06 in front of the net while allowing only five goals (0.74) with 23 saves (.821) with two shutouts.

The Minutes Are Adding Up
Longwood has already played four double-overtime matches during the first six contests this season, including three-straight. The first two OT matches resulted in ties (Richmond, Liberty), while the last two have resulted in losses (ETSU, ASU). Ironically, the Lancers did not play one OT match during all of last season when the program finished 11-8. Instead of the regulation 540 minutes through six games, Longwood has played 608-plus minutes for an average of 101 minutes per match.

Wounded Warrior Weekend
The Longwood Wounded Warrior Weekend takes place Sept. 9-10, and will include several additional activities surrounding the women's soccer match against Tennessee Tech. Paintball will get things started on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m., followed by the Longwood-TTU contest Friday night at 7 p.m. honoring wounded warriors and Army Capt. Shane Adcock, Marine Sgt. Donald Lamar, and Army Sgt. Andrew McConnell. Saturday will feature a Memorial 5K run at 9 a.m. on the High Bridge Trail that will start and finish behind the Historic Farmville Train Station, and the LW3 Benefit Soccer Game will take place Saturday evening at the Athletics Complex at 5:30 p.m. It will feature a 'Dream Team' of military members, family and friends of Wounded Warriors, and family, friends, and comrades of Adcock, Lamar, and McConnell versus Longwood Faculty and Staff. Commemorative Longwood Wounded Warrior t-shirts will be available for purchase in the lobby of Dorrill Dining Hall Sept. 6-8, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-7 p.m., and Sept. 9, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. T-Shirts will also be available for purchase at all associated events and at Longwood's Rock The Block Sept. 16, with all proceeds from shirt sales being donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.

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 187-115-18 (.613) 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 have combined for 164 career starts, 27 goals, 13 assists, and 67 points.

No Place Like Home
Longwood is 36-11-1 (.760), including 1-1 this season, 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 29-10 (.744) at the Athletics Complex since attaining its NCAA Division I certification and eligibility for 2007.

Up Next
Longwood will play two matches next week, including a home contest against in-state opponent Radford University of the Big South Conference on Friday, Sept. 16, at the Athletics Complex in Farmville at 7 p.m., and a road match at in-state opponent and Big South member VMI on Sunday, Sept. 18, in Lexington at 2 p.m.