FARMVILLE, Va. -- The Longwood University Athletics Department and the women's soccer program will welcome back the 2002 team on Saturday, October 6, for the Lancers' Big South Conference match against Gardner-Webb University at the Athletics Complex at 4 p.m. It's the 10th anniversary of their Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) Tournament Championship. The Lancers won the CVAC Tournament Championship that season with a 2-0 shutout against Barton College in Belmont, North Carolina. Longwood advanced to the tournament title match with a 2-1 win against Lees-McRae College in the semifinals, also played at Belmont Abbey College, following a 9-0 shutout against Erskine College in their quarterfinal match, which was played at Hampden-Sydney College due to wet field conditions on the Longwood campus after heavy rain that week in the Farmville area.
“We've had a lot of great players and teams throughout the history of the program, and this team will go down as one of the greatest because of what they were able to accomplish in 2002,” said
Todd Dyer '93. “This group established a foundation of success within our program and they took it a step further by earning various individual and team honors throughout the regular and postseason. Not only were these young ladies crowned champions on the field, but they moved on in life to become champions within their families, champions in the work force and champions in their communities. They left a legacy at Longwood that still exists today and this university is better off due to their commitment, hard work and success.”
In the championship, Phoebe Munson scored an early goal (the game-winner) for Longwood in the fifth minute, unassisted, and Tiffany Gruschow added another goal in the 13th minute. Keeper Lindsay Naill had five saves and the Lancers' defense, ranked sixth nationally, did the rest while posting the team's 12th shutout in 19 matches. Munson was named the Tournament MVP, while Gruschow, Hillary Carney, Rigel Lockett and Gina Powell joined her on the All-Tournament Team.
In the semifinal, Munson scored just 44-seconds in, and Christine Clay scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 41st minute, while Laura Kilmartin provided assists on each goal. Naill made two saves. The quarterfinal witnessed Munson scoring one goal with four assists, Gruschow had two goals and one assist, Powell had two goals, Rachel Krekorian, Stef Langton, Sarah Mathis and Tricia Root each had one goal, while Mikaela Bizer, Mia Capps and Whitney Raunswinter each had one assist. Nail earned the shutout.
Longwood finished the 2002 campaign with a final record of 15-3-1 overall, including 10-1-0 in the CVAC, still the second-finest season in the 19-year history of the program. The Lancers outscored their opponents 72-8, including the already-mentioned 12 shutouts. The three losses were each by one goal (two on the road) with the tie coming in the season's first match on the road. Lockett was named to the NSCAA All-Southeast Region, All-CVAC and VaSID All-State First Teams. Munson was All-Region Second Team, All-CVAC First Team and All-State Second Team. Gruschow was All-Region Third Team, CVAC Freshman of the Year, All-CVAC First Team and All-State Second Team. Carney was All-CVAC and All-State Second Team. Naill and Tiffany Rice were each All-CVAC Second Team. Teresa Feher earned CVAC All-Academic Team honors.
Longwood was coached by
Todd Dyer '93, assisted by Juan Bernedo and
Kayla Miller. Team members included Brandi Barfield, Holly Belcher, Mikaela Bizer, Mia Capps, Hillary Carney, Melissa Cary, Christine Clay, Teresa Feher, Tiffany Gruschow, Amanda Guckian, Erin Kennedy, Laura Kilmartin, Rachel Krekorian, Stef Langton, Rigel Lockett, April Lockley, Sarah Mathis, Phoebe Munson, Lindsay Naill, Gina Powell, Whitney Raunswinter, Tiffany Rice and Tricia Root.
