The women’s soccer team is still searching for its first win of the 2013 campaign and currently stands at a record of 0-1-2 (wins-losses-ties) with the Big South competition still three weeks away.
The team headed into this season without four seniors from last year, including strong goalkeeper Kyra Byron, offensive threats Lindsey Ottavio and Nikki Glisson, as well as defender Natalie Massey. However, reigning First Team All-Big South midfielder and forward Kelsey Pardue, one of two seniors on this year’s team, returns after a seven-goal and six-assist 2012. After a 1-0 exhibition loss to Appalachian State on Aug. 17, the season began in earnest at North Carolina State on Aug. 25.
There was little action to be seen for the first two-thirds of the match as far as goals were concerned – both teams had six shots on net in the first half, but there was nothing going on the big board.
Three minutes after the hour mark, Kasey Koballa passed to Jessica Baity, who finally connected from the top of the box.
The Lancers, however, were undeterred, and with 20:16 to play, Amanda Spencer put a loose ball past Karly Gustafson of the Wolfpack to level the match.
The final twelve minutes of the match were nothing short of epic. Shelli Spamer scored in the 79th minute to give N.C. State their second lead on the night, but just 50 seconds later, it was tied again as Lancer Spencer deflected a shot from the top of the penalty areaand it looked as if the Lancers would leave Raleigh with a respectable draw against an ACC opponent.
However, the Wolfpack clawed to the last and in the 90th minute, Jennie Krauser crossed to Jackie Stengel, who headed it home. Her second goal of the season was the game-winning third with 44 seconds to play, but longtime head coach Todd Dyer wasn’t fazed by the loss.
"We know what we're capable of now and we're motivated to find that little something extra to win tight games like this in the future … In the end, it was an exciting game for both teams to be a part of, and a good way to kick off the new season,” he told LongwoodLancers.com afterward.
Last Tuesday saw the Bison of Howard University make the trip to Southside as the Lancers held their home opener.
Howard outshot Longwood 3-1 in the first half, but the Lancers flipped the switch and had 14 shots on target in the second, but were still unable
to finish and the game went to overtime.
The Bison didn’t have a shot in extra time, but the Lancers couldn’t score on three of their own and the game ended in a scoreless draw. Friday saw more of the same at Richmond; in over 110 minutes against the Spiders, the Lancers recorded 14 shots.
Richmond had 27 but couldn’t get any of them to move the net behind senior keeper Shelby Hall, and Longwood returned to Farmville with their current 0-1-2 record.
For Hall’s efforts last week, she was named the Big South Defensive Player of the Week for her 0.87 goals against average through three matches. The side has two road games this week as a road trip commences.
The team will be in Philadelphia on Friday evening to play Saint Joseph’s at 5 p.m.
On Sunday, they have another game in the City of Brotherly Love against Drexel at noon.
