With the fall sports season in full swing, the Longwood men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey and cross-country teams have begun to establish a working ground to feed off of as all teams enter a long midseason stretch ahead of their all-important conference schedules. Here’s where they stand:
Following a disappointing 2018 season, head coach Jon Atkinson has led his men’s soccer program to a red-hot start, winning three of their first four games, including a 5-1 thrashing of Virginia Military Institute (VMI) at home. Following their slim loss to Navy on Wednesday, the Lancers fell to 3-2 with just one game remaining on the non-conference docket. However, Atkinson’s squad has outscored their opponents 12-4 through five games, leading the Big South conference in goals and allowing the fewest goals thus far.
Their lightning start came in part by stellar performances from senior forward Mikel Abando and junior midfielder Ander Etxaniz, who was given Big South Player of the Week honors, as both have netted four goals in five games. The Lancers boast six different scorers, and look to regain momentum when they visit James Madison on Sep. 13.
The women’s soccer program, who was ranked number three in the Big South preseason poll, has kicked-off to a less-than-ideal start for a team who has been a championship contender for the past few years. Veteran head coach Todd Dyer’s squad has started 2-5 and has been outscored by their opponents, 13-7 as they have begun conference play this past weekend.
However, Dyer previously stated the non-conference schedule was set up to test his team, knowing it wouldn’t be a walk-in-the-park. Earlier, he expressed concerns about formations and strategies he was using to fit specific roles, as well as early season injury concerns, but hopes to resolve these and remain a powerhouse in the Big South as they are on the road at Hampton on Wednesday Sept. 25.
The Longwood field hockey team is not, by any means, an easy team to beat. After putting up fights early in the season against Monmouth and Georgetown, head coach Iain Byers’ team sits at 3-2 with their first MAC conference battle ahead of them at home against Central Michigan on Friday. The Lancers have allowed five goals, the second-fewest in the conference, and carry a seven-goal differential only five games into the season.
Leading the way for the Lancers is senior forward Olivia Wawrzyniak, averaging six shots per game along with three goals, only behind junior forward Karly Harwood with four, who sits fourth in the conference in this category. Their mentality of taking their season one game at a time is in full effect, as they look to dethrone conference powerhouses Kent State and Miami (OH) later this season, seeking the coveted MAC championship in November.
Second-year head coach Daniel Wooten and both his men’s and women’s cross country programs are in the midst of a two-week rest before their Queen City Invitational in North Carolina on Sep. 27. Previously, in the first two invitationals of the year, junior Casey Williams has made a name for herself as one of the top runners in the Big South, finishing 31st in the Elon Invitational and sixth place in the three-team Big South Preview race, clocking personal records in each.
The men’s team had two top-10 finishes at the Big South Preview, headed by Nick Howell, who placed ninth out of 18 participants. This finish led the men’s team to a third place finish, and the women’s squad placed second, only behind Campbell. Following the Queen City Invitational, the team has three races left, including the Big South Championship in early November, followed by the NCAA Southeast Regional in Charlottesville.
A.J. Kmiec carries forward and eyes teammate Ander Etxaniz in the midfield.
