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Monday, February 3, 2025

Women’s Soccer Loses Close One at Home

   The LU women’s soccer team took on the Dukes from James Madison University (JMU) Sunday night at the Athletics Complex in Farmville, losing a close contest by a 2-0 score. Throughout the majority of the match, it was a tightly contested defensive game. In the first women’s soccer matchup ever between these two teams, both goals by JMU came at about the midpoint of the second half within just two minutes of each other.

   Longwood Head Coach Todd Dyer wanted his team to be the aggressors early on and try to create some chances on goal, but LU wasn’t able to get much going during the first half. After one half of play, JMU held a three-shot advantage over LU, 5-2.

   “Coming into the game we were going to try and win it. We weren’t going to just sit back and absorb pressure and keep it close and steal a goal. We were going to pressure them and push forward,” Dyer said. “In the first half, defensively we did everything we needed to do. They threatened a few times, but it was one of those bend don’t break situations; so defensively I thought we were covered. “Offensively [there was] not a whole lot going on, but we got into the locker room at halftime, made a few adjustments and basically just focused on being  a little more efficient in the front half." LU did just that to start the second half creating some chances and attempting to put some pressure on the Dukes’ defense.

   Senior midfielder/forward Kelsey Pardue put a good ball into the box off a corner kick in the 46th minute, but it was deflected over the crossbar and out of bounds. Two minutes later, junior midfielder/forward

   Kelsey McDonald put a good cross in from the right side of the box, but it was also kicked up and over the crossbar. Neither team threatened much again until JMU scored the go ahead goal at 65:26. Sydney

   Braun-McLeod took advantage of a tiring Lancer defense when she got behind the back line for LU and took control of an aerial through ball. She then dribbled in from the left of the box and scored on an attractive shot into the upper corner of the net, over the outstretched arms of graduate goalkeeper Shelby Hall.

“On the first goal, the ball just got behind our back’s head, and I was going to sub her and as she came off the field I told her I should have done that sooner; that’s on me,” Dyer said. “That’s all it was, she had tired legs, the ball got over her head and that’s what led to the first goal.”

   Less than two minutes later, JMU struck again. At 67:17 Meghan Cox scored on a header off a beautiful corner kick from  Sam Lofton to push the lead to two. Dyer on the final goal said, “[The] second goal was a set piece and their girl just out jumped our girl.”

   LU tried to answer late in the game but was unable to get anything to go. Junior midfielder/forward had a good shot on goal in the 71st minute, but JMU goalkeeper Ellen Forrest made a great leaping save to snuff out the attempt. Freshman Gina D’Orazio had one final good look when she took a shot from inside the left of the box in 87th minute. The ball deflected off a JMU player towards the top of goal but just barely missed hitting the crossbar.

   “Basically in the final third of the field they had players that made a difference and had an impact in the game; I thought we had some really good chances, especially late that just didn’t go in for us,” Dyer said. “Goals make all the difference in the world; they got theirs no matter how they came and we just couldn’t quite finish in front of the net. “We got there; we had a good look at it we just couldn’t knock it in.”

   That match ended nonconference play for the Lancers in 2013. They will put their 1-5-2 record on the line Sept. 25 at the Athletics Complex at 7 p.m. against the 3-4-1 Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina in their Big South Opener.