FARMVILLE, Va. -- The wait is over.  No longer is Longwood University an Independent without conference affiliation.  The Lancers became the 12th member of the Big South Conference on July 1.  Longwood women's soccer will compete during 2012 for an opportunity to win a league championship and the accompanying qualification into the NCAA Tournament.  Veteran head coach Todd Dyer, a 1993 graduate of the school entering his 19th year at the helm, returns seven starters among 18 letterwinners from a year ago, and has added 10 freshmen to the roster.  Dyer has an overall record of 193-119-20 as the sport's only head coach, including 14 winning seasons, and his program has already experienced some success against Big South schools since becoming Division I eligible in 2007 – posting a 14-8-3 record against the league's members over the past five years.
   
“We've been waiting a long time for this and now that this tremendous opportunity has arrived we're going to do everything within our power to make the most of it,” said Dyer.

Longwood will open its 2012 campaign this Friday night, August 17, hosting Drexel University of the Colonial Athletic Association at the Athletics Complex located on Johnston Drive beginning at 7 p.m.  The Lancers remain home to welcome VCU of the Atlantic 10 Conference to Farmville on Sunday evening, August 19, for The GAME 3.0.  The festivities will get under way with a spirit carnival and tailgating in the Grand Dining Room of the Longwood Dining Hall beginning at 4:30 p.m., a pep rally to feature the unveiling of the new Longwood Fight Song in Willett Hall at 6 p.m., and a 6:15 p.m. march from campus up Fourth Street and Longwood Avenue to the soccer facility for the opening kickoff at 7 p.m.
   
Longwood expects to be led by senior captain and three-year starting forward Lindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson), who enters her final season ranked fifth in career goals with 22, along with senior captain and three-year starting defender Natalie Massey|Virginia Beach (Landstown), who has anchored the squad's defense.  Ottavio was fourth in scoring a year ago with three goals and two assists for eight points, but she will look to enjoy a similar campaign to that of her sophomore effort when she posted a team-best 16 goals that ranked seventh in Division I during 2010.
   
“Our two senior captains realize just how fortunate they are to have a shot at a championship in the final season of their careers,” said Dyer.  “The moment our Big South affiliation became public they were brainstorming and really showing the initiative in bringing this team together during the spring and summer months and focusing on a common goal.”
   
The Lancers will also look to senior and two-year starting keeper Kyra Byron|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) and junior and two-year starting midfielder Kelsey Pardue|Henrico (Hermitage).  Byron played 1429 minutes in front of the net during 2011, allowing only 14 goals for an impressive 0.88 goals against average, while making 55 saves for a .797 save percentage, along with six shutouts.  She ranks second in career goals against average (0.81) for keepers at Longwood, yielding just 23 goals while playing 2563 minutes.  Pardue led the Lancers in scoring a year ago with six goals and six assists for 18 points.  She led the team in every offensive category, including goals, assists, points, shots (43), shots on goal (20) and game-winning goals (2, tied with Ottavio).  Pardue has been named a preseason Top 20 Player to Watch in the Big South Conference by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
   
“It gives us all a little peace of mind being able to have a senior in goal because that experience goes a long way in such a critical position,” said Dyer.  “On the attacking side of things, Pardue can be pretty dynamic and creative for us at times so we want to try and let her play with as much freedom as possible this season.”
   
Other returning starters for Longwood include senior Nikki Glisson|Mechanicsville (Hanover) as well as sophomores Kelsey McDonald|Kennett Square, Pa. (Unionville) and Rebecca Soares|Virginia Beach (Kempsville).  A midfielder, Glisson was third in scoring last season with three goals and three assists for nine points.  A forward, McDonald was fifth in scoring as a freshman with two goals and two assists, totaling four points.  A defender, Soares added an assist a year ago.
   
“Nikki can help us in a variety of positions, but most of her work for us will be in central midfield this fall,” said Dyer.  “Mac started in the back for us most of last year, but since then she's really settled into the forward position and her pace and athleticism should create some good matchups for us in the front third of the field.  Beks brings pace and a tireless work rate to our back line and we'll give her the green light to push forward from the outside back position throughout the season.”
   
The additional returning letterwinners include junior keeper Shelby Hall|Purcellville (Loudoun Valley), junior defender Chelsea Walter|South Riding (Freedom), redshirt-sophomore forward Stephanie Green|Monkton, Md. (Harford), redshirt-sophomore keeper Dana Wallace|Charlottesville (Home Schooled), sophomore defender Taylor Cave|Virginia Beach (Floyd E. Kellam), sophomore midfielder Kylie Dyer|Farmville (Prince Edward County), sophomore forward Lexi Jones|Chesapeake (Grassfield), sophomore defender Carley Lucas|Fredericksburg (Fredericksburg Christian), sophomore forward Kelsey Lucas|Fredericksburg (Fredericksburg Christian), sophomore midfield/forward Samantha Phillips|Chesapeake (Grassfield), and sophomore midfielder Kelsey Trace|Gainesville (Battlefield).
   
“This group got tons of experience this past spring and we hope this translates to a very productive fall season where it really starts to count,” said Dyer.  “This quality depth and experience can be used in a variety of situations, so we'll have to see how it all comes together as we develop our team dynamic and chemistry on the field.”
   
The class of first year team members includes defender Katie Beebe|Round Hill (Woodgrove), midfielder/forward Bridget Bergquist|Bristow (Brentsville), midfielder Olivia Colella|Herndon (Chantilly), defender Madison Flanagan|Leesburg (Heritage), keeper Hailey Machen|Fairfax (Fairfax), midfielder/defender Alana Mackey|Leesburg (Loudoun County), defender Meghan Magee|Virginia Beach (Bayside), defender Amelia McConnell|Carlisle, Pa. (Carlisle), midfielder/forward Sarah Watson|Newport News (Woodside) and forward Haylea Witz|Chesapeake (Grassfield).
   
“This is a large and very capable recruiting class and we need them all to have an impact for us this year,” said Dyer.  “How fast they're able to transition into a faster, more physical, competitive environment will determine just how much they're able to contribute.  The opportunity is there, so we'll see who steps up as the season unfolds.”
   
Longwood will play a 19-match schedule that features 11 Big South Conference matches, including five league home contests at the Athletics Complex in Farmville.  The Lancers are 40-14-2 on their home turf since beginning competition at the facility in 2006.  Though finishing an uncharacteristic 5-4-1 at home last season, Longwood has an impressive 33-13-1 record at the Athletics Complex since becoming DI eligible for the 2007 season.
   
“The key to any season is getting the most out of your opportunities at home and being a team that's really tough to beat on the road,” said Dyer.  “In the end, we have to show up mentally and physically for every single game and if we do that, we'll give ourselves a real shot at a successful campaign in 2012.”
   
The Big South Conference Tournament will include the top eight teams playing quarterfinal matches at the four highest seeds on October 27, followed by semifinal matches on November 2 and the tournament championship contest on November 4, hosted by Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
   
“We've been working hard for this opportunity for a many, many years, and now it's time to put up or shut up,” said Dyer.  “We have a great deal of respect for everyone on our schedule, especially in the Big South, so now it's just a matter of doing all the hard work and see where it takes us.  Go Lancers!”
   
Associate head coach Steve Brdarski, who is in his ninth year, along with junior student assistant coach Rachel Powers will assist Coach Dyer.