November 1, 2005
FARMVILLE, Va. -- The Longwood University women’s soccer team has advanced to the inaugural United Soccer Conference USC) Tournament this weekend, November 4-6, in Fort Wayne, Indiana hosted by IPFW at the Hefner Soccer Complex. The Lancers, 6-8-1 overall, 2-0 in the USC, enter the event as the #1 seed from the East Division, and will play IPFW (4-11-3, 1-1), the #2 seed from the West Division, Friday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. in the second semifinal match.
The opening semifinal contest features Utah Valley State (6-11, 2-0, #1 West) against Howard (4-11-1, 2-1, #2 East) at 5 p.m.. The consolation match will be played Sunday, Nov. 6, at 9 a.m., followed by the USC Championship (Sunday, Nov. 6) at 11 a.m..
“We're all very excited to have the opportunity to play in the post-season and compete for a championship,” said 12th-year head coach Todd Dyer ‘93 (134-74-9). “These transition years have been a challenge and our student-athletes deserve the chance to play beyond the regular season. We've hit a nice stride in October in regard to our on-field performances and results, and we're hoping to maintain this form
for two more games in Fort Wayne, Indiana.”
Longwood enters the conference tournament after an undefeated month of October (4-0-1) that saw the Lancers outscore their opponents 12-3 during the five matches, including two shutouts. Ironically, the current unbeaten streak comes on the heals of seven-straight losses during mid-season, though four were by just one goal. Overall, Longwood has outscored its opposition 28-26 during the 15 matches this fall.
The Lancers are led in scoring by freshman Brooke Brumby/Gaithersburg, Md. (Quince Orchard) with seven goals and one assist for 15 points. Brumby, also with a team-best two game-winning goals, is followed by junior Anna Gravely/Virginia Beach (Frank W. Cox) with six goals and one assist for 13 points. Other top scorers include senior Melissa Cary/Bristow (Brentsville) (3g, 1a, 7p), sophomore Aynsley Birkner/Virginia Beach (First Colonial) (3g, 6p), along with senior Tiffany Rice/Virginia Beach (Kellam) (1g, 3a, 5p) and junior Tiffany Crane/Virginia Beach (Kellam) (1g, 3a, 5p). Cary and Crane each have a game-winning goal as well this season.
Sophomore keeper Anne Whitmore/Charlottesville (Western Albemarle) has started nine of 10 games, including the last five, and played 751:32 in front of the net, allowing 11 goals (1.32) with 34 saves (.756) and the two recent shutouts.
The newly-formed NCAA Division I USC is a single-sport, women’s soccer conference that includes Longwood, Delaware State, Howard, IPFW, South Carolina State, and Utah Valley State. The Lancers are competing this season in year three of the institution’s four-year Division I Reclassification toward official certification in September 2007.
