After the first four games of their fall campaign, the Longwood Lancers women's soccer team has a record of 1-1-2. The ladies opened their 2011 season with a double-overtime 0-0 tie against the Richmond Spiders. That game was played on Aug. 19 in Richmond. The two teams played to a draw through 90 minutes of regulation and then failed to score in one 15-minute overtime period. The game was called at the discretion of match officials due to weather in the area.
The Spiders managed three shots on goal in the first half. Longwood keeper Kyra Byron stopped each of those shots. Longwood had three scoring chances of their own to open the second half, but were unable to convert as two shots were saved and the other blocked. Richmond again threatened to score three more times, but Byron held her ground. The Lancers' goalkeeper also stopped a Richmond shot during OT. The second overtime period was stopped due to lightning.
Richmond outshot Longwood 21-9 and 8-3 in attempts on-goal. Captain Kacie Oliver and Kelsey Pardue each had two shots for the Lancers. Byron racked up eight saves in all. Andrea Young, the keeper for the Spiders, had three saves. Richmond leads the all-time series against Longwood 3-1-2.
After the tie against Richmond, Longwood returned home for the second Greatest Athletics March Ever (G.A.M.E 2.0) on Aug. 21. The team won the contest, defeating Howard University 2-0. This year's iteration of The G.A.M.E. was played before a raucous crowd of well over 1,000.
Prior to the game, there was a pep rally in Willett Hall and a march from campus to the soccer facility.
Nikki Glisson scored the game-winning goal in the 57th minute for Longwood. Alex Myers scored a second goal for the Lancers in the 88th minute. Myers, a redshirt senior, sat out all of last season due to injury. She said it was nice to come back and score a goal in one of the biggest games of the year.
"Tonight my jitters were going, but I felt good," said Myers. "It feels right this year. I feel healthy. I feel good. The team's really strong this year and I'm excited. We loved the support tonight."
Longwood held a 17-1 advantage in shots, including 7-0 in attempts on-goal. Longwood leads the all-time series against Howard 11-2.
"As a team we want to come out here and get the result. That's what it's usually about. But that's secondary on a night like tonight. Everybody came together for the blue and white of Longwood," said associate head coach Steve Brdarksi.
Following the victory against Howard, Longwood travelled to Elon University in North Carolina on Aug. 25. The Lancers lost 1-0 after the Elon Phoenix scored in the 60th minute. It was the first goal allowed by Longwood in the first three games. The Lancers then travelled down Rt. 460 to Liberty on Aug. 29 where they tied again in double overtime 1-1. The Liberty Flames scored in the fifth minute on a penalty kick after a questionable call. Taylor Cavel, a freshman on the Lancers squad, scored the tying goal in the 85th minute. Neither team broke the deadlock after that.
Longwood takes the field again on Friday, Sept. 2 when they travel to East Tennessee State University of the Atlantic Sun Conference in Johnson City, Tennessee.
