FARMVILLE, Va. – After shutting out East Carolina in a scoreless draw in the preseason, the Longwood women's soccer team officially opens the 2014 season this Friday, Aug. 22, against American in Washington, D.C.
 
The 4 p.m. game pits the Lancers against the Eagles at Reeves Field in the nation's capital. The road matchup favors Lancers, which played some of its best soccer on the road in 2013 and brings a five-game road win streak into the season opener. The Lancers, who went 9-9-2 overall and 8-3-0 in the Big South en route to a third-place conference finish, have not allowed a goal in a true road game since Sept. 13, 2013 and own a 15-0 goal differential during that streak.
 
Despite losing a 20-game starter at goalkeeper to graduation, the Lancers did not miss a beat in the preseason matchup against East Carolina. Led by junior keeper Hailey Machen, Longwood kept the Pirates off the board through 90 minutes of regulation while weathering eight shots through the 90-minute scrimmage. Machen registered four saves before yielding the net to freshman Maria Kirby, who blocked the one shot directed at her in goal.
 
Longwood boasts a roster that includes four Big South Preseason All-Conference selections. Among that quartet are forward Gina D'Orazio, midfielder Amanda Spencer and defenders Meghan Magee and Alana Mackey. Spencer is the reigning Big South Freshman of the Year after a freshman campaign that saw her finish second in the league with a team-high nine goals and 21 points. Each of those four drew starts against East Carolina and figure to be heavily involved against the Eagles.
 
American also returns its top scorer and points leader from 2013 in forward Lindsay Muri as well as their starting keeper in Charlene Belanger. Belanger posted a .885 save percentage and recorded 116 saves last season and was named to the Preseason All-Patriot League team this year alongside Muri and defender Kirsten Eriksen.
 
Following the road game in D.C., the Lancers return to Farmville for the Greatest Athletics March Ever (G.A.M.E.) on Aug. 24 and a 6 p.m. meeting against Richmond at the Athletics Complex.

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