Big South Conference Weekly Report (PDF) | Online Team Guide

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University took a 1-0 non-conference road victory last week at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County of the America East Conference on September 9 in Baltimore, Maryland.  The Lancers will play again this Friday, Sept. 14, in a rare afternoon match when they host non-league opponent East Tennessee State University of the Atlantic Sun Conference at the Athletics Complex in Farmville beginning at 2 p.m.

Recapping UMBC
Longwood and UMBC were scoreless through the opening 45 minutes before junior Kelsey Pardue|Henrico (Hermitage) finished a well-played ball from sophomore Kelsey McDonald|Kennett Square, Pa. (Unionville) to the right post at 57:27.  It was the first goal of the season by Pardue, and also the first assist of the fall by McDonald.  Senior keeper Kyra Byron|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) took care of the rest for the Lancers with five of her six saves in the second half.  UMBC took a 9-7 advantage in shots, including 6-4 in attempts on goal, though Longwood had a 2-1 edge in corner kicks.  Senior captain Lindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson) had three shots for the Lancers to go along with the two shots taken by Pardue.  Byron played the duration in front of the net with six saves for her 10th career shutout.  Longwood and UMBC were playing for the fourth time in the sport of women's soccer, as the Lancers now lead the series, 2-1-1.

Quoting Head Coach Todd Dyer
“I thought it was a fair and hard-earned result the way the game unfolded.  We were pretty solid passing the ball today and managed to get in behind them on several occasions.  At times, we were a little too eager with our running off of the ball and that showed with the number of times we were called offsides (7).  Eventually, we figured it out and Mac played-in Pardue, who completed the move with a composed and classy finish.”

Leading The Lancers | Team Statistics
Lindsey Ottavio leads Longwood in scoring through four matches with her two goals totaling four points. Kelsey Pardue adds one goal and one assist for three points, sophomores Kylie Dyer|Farmville (Prince Edward County) and Samantha Phillips|Chesapeake (Grassfield), along with freshman Haylea Witz|Chesapeake (Grassfield) each add one goal for two points apiece, and Kelsey McDonald adds one assist for the Lancers totaling one point.  Kyra Byron has played all 551 minutes in front of the net while allowing seven goals (1.14) with 26 saves (.788) on 73 shots with three shutouts.

NCAA Statistics
Longwood ranked 51st in Division I shutout percentage (0.5) through Sept. 9, and 80th in winning percentage (.667). 

In The Record Book
Kyra Byron ranks second in career goals against average for keepers at Longwood with her 0.87 gaa.  She has allowed just 30 goals while playing 3114 minutes through three-plus seasons.  Lindsey Ottavio ranks in a tie for third in career goals for the Lancers with 24 goals through three-plus seasons.

Big South Conference Defensive Player Of The Week
Kyra Byron was named the Big South Conference Defensive Player Of The Week Sept. 11 for her effort during a 1-0 shutout road victory at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County on Sept. 9.  She is Longwood's second Big South Player of the Week (see below) through the first four weeks of the season.  Byron posted six saves for the Lancers against the Retrievers with five of her saves in the second half, including four after Longwood had taken a one-goal advantage.  It was the third shutout in six matches this season for Byron, the fourth-year team member who now totals 10 shutouts in her career to rank sixth all-time.

Big South Conference/Attacking Player Of The Week
Lindsey Ottavio was named the Big South Conference Attacking Player Of The Week August 28 for her effort during the 2-1 double-overtime home win past Richmond on August 24.  She is Longwood's first Big South Player of the Week since the school joined the conference on July 1.  Ottavio scored two unassisted goals, including the game-winner just 50-seconds into the second extra period to lead the Lancers (3-1) past the Spiders.  She scored her first goal in the 65th minute, taking the ball through the middle of the box while beating both a defender and the keeper with a shot to the left side of the net at 64:35.  Ottavio finally ended the well-played match at 100:50 when she took a loose ball in the box and once again beat the keeper with a hard shot to the left side for the sudden victory.  The second-year team captain now ranks in a tie for third in career goals at Longwood with 24, including eight game-winning goals.  Ottavio was also named the College Sports Madness Big South Player of the Week.

No Place Like Home
Longwood is now 42-15-2 (.729) on its home turf at the Athletics Complex since beginning competition at the facility in 2006. The Lancers are 35-14-1 (.710) at home since attaining its NCAA Division I certification and eligibility for 2007.

2012 Captains
Lindsey Ottavio is serving as a team captain for the second consecutive season, while senior Natalie Massey|Virginia Beach (Landstown) is in the team leadership role for the first time.

Youth Being Served
Ten freshmen and/or sophomores have made starts through the opening six matches.  The Lancers have nine true sophomores and 10 true freshmen among their 28-player roster, and overall, 15 of them have seen action this season.

The Coaching Staff
Head coach Todd Dyer '93 is in his 19th year leading Longwood and is assisted by associate head coach Steve Brdarski, in his ninth season, along with student assistant Rachel Powers '14.

Up Next
Following the ETSU contest, Longwood will play on the road again at non-league foe Cleveland State University on Sunday, Sept. 16.  The first home Big South Conference match for the Lancers will take place on Thursday, Sept. 20, against UNC Asheville at 7 p.m.