FIELD HOCKEY WEEKLY:
Lancers Gear Up for Season Opener
August 25, 2008
FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood field hockey program returns to the field for the 2008 season on August 30 as the team opens the season with a neutral site match-up against Lock Haven. The game will be hosted on the campus Bucknell University, with the Lancers facing off against the Bison on August 31.
Longwood heads into the game after completing last season with a 6-15 overall record, and a 2-4 finish in the NorPac. The Lancers ended the 2007 season with two losses in the NorPac Tournament, falling to Davidson 4-2, before falling to Pacific in the third-place game 3-2.
Lock Haven concluded the 2007 season with a 17-6 overall record, and an undefeated Northeast Conference season (7-0), earning the conference championship with a 3-1 win over Rider. The Eagles dropped their NCAA Play-in-game against Stanford 1-0, ending the team’s post-season run.
Bucknell struggled in conference play, ending the season 1-4 in the Patriot League, but concluded the season with an 8-9 overall record. The Bison closed the season on a high note, defeating Lafayette 3-2 in Lewisburg, Pa.
SCHEDULE:
Saturday, Aug. 30 - Longwood vs. Lock Haven (at Bucknell), 1 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31 - Longwood at Bucknell, 11:30 a.m.
WHO TO WATCH: The Lancers return 16 players from last season’s squad, including seniors Dani Bayse/Lottsburg, Va. (Northumberland), Carla Binnewies/Hamburg, Germany (carl von Ossietzkly Gymnasium), Carra Bunner/Virginia Beach (Kempsville), Michelle Eastlake/Reston (South Lake), and Erin West/Stafford (North Stafford). Binnewies returns to the Lancers after earning a spot on the NorPac All-Conference Second-Team, while being twice named Rookie of the Week.
SERIES RECORD:
Longwood vs. Lock Haven: 2-13-1
Longwood vs. Bucknell: 0-1
LAST MEETING:
Longwood vs. Lock Haven: The Lancers fell to the Eagles 5-0 last season
Longwood vs. Bucknell: The Bison defeated the Lancers 3-0 on Sept. 10, 2006 in Lewisburg.
QUOTABLE:
Head Coach Iain Byers on the 2008 season: We are very excited to get the season underway. We are going to face many good programs and we’re going to be looking to compete with each and every one of them. Our side is very confident in the work we’ve put in and now it’s time to get things started and put our plan into action.
Byers on Lock Haven and Bucknell: Both sides are very strong and pose tough challenges, however I?believe that we are capable of challenging both teams.
Byers on opening the season on the road: Opening on the road is always tough, because you don’t have the home field advantage, but it’s a great test for our side. We have worked very hard in the offseason and this series will give us an opportunity to see if all that hard work has payed off.
