FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University enters its 2006 women’s soccer campaign intent upon enjoying its first winning season while competing against an NCAA Division I schedule. Under the guidance of Longwood graduate and 13th-year head coach Todd Dyer ’93, the traditionally strong program enters the upcoming season with nine returning starters among 16 overall letterwinners. Coach Dyer and third-year assistant coach Steve Brdarski have again added another talented group of newcomers to the team as well, and several among the eight are expected to contribute immediately. The Lancers will be competing this fall in the final year of the school’s four-year Division I Reclassification, and will open with a pair of preseason home exhibition matches in Farmville at the all-new Athletics Complex against East Carolina (August 18, 7 p.m.) and Virginia Wesleyan (August 22, 4 p.m.).

“At the beginning of our reclassification, when we started playing a full Division I schedule, my main goal for the program was that we improved year after year,” said Dyer. “Our record over the past several years shows that we've been able to do exactly that. Hopefully 2006 marks the year that we really turn the corner and establish a consistent and significant level of success on the field and in the win column.”

Much of the optimism evolves from a veteran senior class that includes forward Tiffany Crane/Virginia Beach (Kellam) (1g, 4a), midfielder Anna Gravely/Virginia Beach (Frank W. Cox) (6g, 1a), keeper Heather Storrie/Spring Grove, Pa. (Spring Grove) (597 minutes, 2.26 gaa, 1 ShO), midfielder Lexi Torrice/Richmond (Douglas Freeman), and forward Vanessa Congdon/Charlotte, N.C. (Charlotte Catholic) (1g, 1a). Crane, Gravely, and Congdon are each returning starters. The five have combined to start 137 matches during their respective Lancer careers, led by Gravely’s 46 career starts, while combining for 21 goals and 19 assists.

“This group has done an amazing job of changing the culture in all phases of the program to make us a legitimate competitor at the DI level,” explained Dyer. “With all of the hard work and sacrifice that they have committed to the program over the past four years, they really deserve to go out on a high note and we have a team this year that can make that happen.

“In terms of senior leadership, we can expect it in many different forms this year. Lexi's energy and personality will keep everyone loose and ready to perform. Heather has become our 'team mother' and her temperament will ensure that we can handle anything that's thrown at us. Tiffany's work ethic and consistent performances should set the standard for others to follow. Vanessa has the versatility to give us a lift whenever and wherever it is needed. And Anna has the drive and focus to really grab a hold of this team and take it to great places. If everything comes together, this could be our best year yet.”

The junior class totals five: defenders Aynsley Birkner/Virginia Beach (First Colonial) (3g) and Kristina Reed/Spotsylvania (Chancellor) (2a), midfielder Katie Young/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) (1a), keeper Anne Whitmore/Charlottesville (Western Albemarle) (932 minutes, 1.16 gaa, 3 ShO), and defender Brittany Stubbs/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne). Birkner, Reed, Young, and Whitmore are all returning starters. The six-member sophomore class includes redshirt keeper Emily Grove/Farmville (Prince Edward County) (21 minutes, 0.00 gaa), midfielder Cassie Lynn/Virginia Beach (Kellam) (1g), forward Ashlee McConnell/Carlisle, Pa. (Carlisle) (2g), along with defenders Ingrid Hale/Littleton, Colo. (Chatfield) (1g), Beth Shade/Mechanicsburg, Pa. (Cedar Cliff) (3g), and Maddie Stevens/Charles Town, W.Va. (Jefferson). Lynn and McConnell are each returning starters as well.

“Aynsley has established herself as a cornerstone in our central defense and we'd really like to see her take over with her communication and organization this season,” said Dyer. “Katie's our engine in the defensive central midfield position and has no problem doing the dirty work for us. Reed has tons of pace at the outside back position so we want to see her really getting forward this year and supporting our attack. Maddie showed a lot of confidence and maturity in central defense this past spring and we are counting on that to translate this fall.”

The eight first-year newcomers include keeper Marcia Biddle/Woodbridge (Gar-Field), midfielder Brenda Cary/Bristow (Brentsville), defender Michelle DeSieno/Centreville (Chantilly), forwards Sarah Fening/Manassas (Battlefield) and Cassie Knode/Chester (Thomas Dale), midfielder Kaylyn Mahon/Spring Grove, Pa. (Spring Grove), forward Tia Nardella/Brookline, Mass. (Brookline), and defender Colleen Thamm/Manassas (Battlefield).

“With the freshman class, as always, we will have to see how things unfold,” added Dyer. “There is talent and depth at several positions, so it is just a matter of who plays themselves into the lineup and when.”

Longwood will enjoy conference affiliation in women’s soccer for the second consecutive year as the Lancers remain members of the United Soccer Conference (USC). The USC operated with six members last year, but has added two more members for 2006 to provide for an eight-member league. In addition to Longwood, the other five original members are Delaware State, Howard, IPFW, South Carolina State, and Utah Valley State. New to the conference this year are North Dakota State and South Dakota State. The USC will have two divisions as Longwood will compete in the East Division with Delaware State, Howard, and South Carolina State. The West Division will include IPFW, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, and Utah Valley State. All eight teams will compete in the conference championship November 2-5, hosted by Howard in Washington, D.C..

“We're excited that this year's tournament will be hosted in the Washington, D.C. area,” said Dyer. “The key now is to make sure we take care of business within our division throughout the season so that we qualify for a higher seed in the tournament.”

Nine home games highlight the schedule this year at the all-new Athletics Complex, including matches against Big South Conference members Liberty and VMI. Other home contests include Wofford, UMBC, Campbell, The Citadel, Francis Marion, Mount St. Mary’s, and against USC member Howard. Road games will be played at Big South members UNC Asheville, Radford, Charleston Southern, and Coastal Carolina. Other road matches will be played at Saint Francis, Richmond, Appalachian State, along with USC members Delaware State and South Carolina State.

“Looking at the remainder of our schedule, this is the first year since our DI transition began that we've had good balance in terms of the number of home and away games,” added Dyer. “Hopefully that translates to a successful win/loss record. Our opponents come from a wide range of conference affiliations, so it should be a good test and indicator as to where we stack up as a new Division I program. Starting in mid-September, we have a string of six consecutive road games and that will probably be our toughest test of the year.”

Longwood will open the regular season with a night game at home against visiting Liberty University of the Big South Conference on Friday, August 25, at 7 p.m..