Just For Kicks Weekly Update
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Longwood University will continue its competition in the 2012 Big South Women's Soccer Championship against Radford University in a semifinal match on Friday night, November 2, at 7 p.m. at Eagle Field on the campus of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The No. 3 Lancers (13-5-2) are coached by
Todd Dyer, and led by junior midfielder
Kelsey Pardue|Henrico (Hermitage) (7g, 6a, 20p) along with senior captains forward
Lindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson) (3g, 5a, 11 p) and defensive anchor
Natalie Massey|Virginia Beach (Landstown). The No. 2 Highlanders (12-2-4) are coached by Ben Sohrabi, and led by Julie Ruh'e (6g, 3a, 15p) and Kara Nay (6g, 3a, 15p) along with keeper Che' Brown (0.62gaa, 11 shutouts). The winner will play either No. 1 High Point (10-5-6) or No. 4 Winthrop (11-6-2), who competes in the other semifinal, in the championship contest on Sunday, Nov. 4, in Rock Hill, S.C. at 2 p.m.
"Obviously, Radford, the defending tournament champion, poses a huge challenge for us, but we embrace that opportunity," said 19th-year head coach
Todd Dyer. "To be the best, you have to beat the best, and right now Radford is holding that trophy. It's only fitting that our weekend starts against them because we have such respect for their program and accomplishments. We'll do everything within our power to continue representing Longwood University and our campus community in the best possible way.”
Longwood advanced to the semifinals after the Lancers battled to a 1-1 double-overtime tie against No. 6 Liberty University in Farmville, advancing in the penalty-kick shootout 3-0. High Point advanced with a 3-0 win against No. 8 Charleston Southern University in High Point. Radford advanced with a 1-0 win against No. 7 Campbell University in Radford. Winthrop advanced with a 3-0 win against No. 5 Coastal Carolina University in Rock Hill.
Longwood and Radford played to a 0-0 double-overtime tie on Oct. 18 in Radford. The Lancers lead the all-time series against the Highlanders, 5-3-1. Longwood fell on the road at High Point 2-0 on Oct. 13 in North Carolina. The Panthers lead the all-time series against the Lancers, 6-1-2. Longwood defeated Winthrop 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 4 in Farmville. The Lancers lead the all-time series against the Eagles, 1-0.
The 2012 Big South Women's Soccer Championship semifinals will air on the
Big South Network, with the final airing on
ESPN3. The Big South Tournament Champion receives an automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship.
