September 19, 2010

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University took a 2-0 women's soccer road triumph at Radford University of the Big South Conference Sunday afternoon in Radford. Sophomore Nikki Glisson|Mechanicsville (Hanover) scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 62nd minute for the Lancers (6-4) who won their second-straight match and gained their first road win of this season against the Highlanders (4-4). Longwood will return to action on Friday night, September 24, hosting another Big South school and in-state rival Liberty University at the Athletics Complex in Farmville beginning at 7 p.m.

Longwood and Radford played to a scoreless opening period with the match 0-0 at the intermission. The Lancers got on the board early in the second half when Glisson dribbled down the left side and placed a shot to the lower right corner of the net at 61:25. LU added an insurance goal just moments later when senior Jessica Varela|Midlothian (Clover Hill) scored a goal in the 66th minute with an assist from sophomore Lindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson) at 65:55. Glisson and Varela each have two goals on the year, including goals in back-to-back matches for Varela, while it was the first assist on the season for Ottavio who leads the team with 10 goals.

“Radford is one of the toughest road environments we have to play in all year,” said 17th-year head coach Todd Dyer '93. “It takes a lot of courage and commitment to get a result, which is exactly what we showed today. We're excited, we know we can win on the road now, and we'll look forward to playing Liberty this weekend.”

Radford took a slight 12-10 advantage in shots, though Longwood had the edge 6-2 in attempts on-goal, while it was even at 3-3 on corner kicks. Graduate keeper Marcia Biddle|Woodbridge (Gar-Field) played the duration in front of the net for the Lancers with two saves to earn her second shutout this season. Che' Brown played the entire match in front of the net for the Highlanders with four saves.

It was the eighth meeting between the two schools in the sport of women's soccer since 2004 as Longwood now leads the all-time series at 6-2.