8.15.2011

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University will open its 2011 Women's Soccer campaign this weekend, August 19-21, with a pair of matches. The Lancers will play on the road at the University of Richmond Friday night, August 19, at Robins Stadium in Richmond at 7:30 p.m. before returning home to host Howard University Sunday night, August 21, at the Athletics Complex in Farmville at 7 p.m. for The GAME 2.0. Admission is free to all Longwood home fall athletics events.

HOWARD GAME DETAILS | The GAME 2.0
Date: August 21, 2011
Site: Farmville, Va.
Facility: Athletics Complex (350)
Kick: 7 p.m.
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A Look At Longwood
The Lancers return seven starters among 18 returning letterwinners as the program finished 11-8 during 2010. Eighteenth-year head coach Todd Dyer '93 has added 11 newcomers to the team, including nine freshmen. Coach Dyer is assisted by associate head coach Steve Brdarski, in his eighth season, along with director of soccer operations Lindsey Williams and graduate assistant Marcia Biddle '10. Dyer is the only coach in the program's history as he has attained an overall coaching record of 186-112-16 over the previous 17 years, including 14 winning seasons.

A Look At Richmond, Howard
Richmond is coached by 17th-year head coach Peter Albright, and finished 7-9-2 a year ago, including a 1-0 win past Longwood in Farmville. The Spiders, members of the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10), return 10 starters among 18 letterwinners and have added nine newcomers to their program. UR is led by sophomore Becca Wann, last year's A-10 Rookie of the Year, who led the team with 10 goals and 21 points; she tallied the game-winner against the Lancers. Howard is coached by third-year head coach Brent Leiba, and finished 6-10 a year ago, including a 2-0 loss at Longwood. The Bison, members of the Great West Conference, are led by junior Retha Koefoed who led the team with six goals and 12 points. Longwood is 1-3-1 all-time versus Richmond, and the Lancers are 9-2 all-time against Howard.

2011 Captains
Fifth-year senior defender Katie Devlin will serve as a team captain for the second consecutive season, while senior defender/midfielder Kacie Oliver and junior forward Lindsey Ottavio are in the team leadership roles for the first time. The veteran and talented trio has combined for 145 career starts, 27 goals, 11 assists, and 65 points.

In The Record Book
Junior forward Lindsey Ottavio enjoyed a breakout season during 2010, starting 18 of 19 matches with a team-best 16 goals and one assist for 33 points. She tied the school-record for season goals, including five multiple-goal matches with one hat-trick, and four game-winning goals. Ottavio ranked among the national leaders in Division I goals and points all season, finishing in a tie for fifth in goals per game (0.842), tied for seventh in goals, tied for eighth in points per game (1.74), and tied for 19th in points. She earned VaSID University Division All-State 1st-Team, and ESPN Academic All-District 3 1st-Team honors while garnering an ECAC Player of the Week award as well.

Welcome Back, Times Two
Fifth-year senior midfielder Alex Myers missed the entire 2010 season due to injury, and was granted a medical hardship waiver. She has started 32 of 46 career matches, posting 11 goals and five assists for 20 points. Sophomore midfielder Kelsey Pardue started all 19 matches a year ago as a freshman with three goals (two game-winning) and a team-best seven assists for 13 points.

Home Sweet Home
Longwood finished 8-2 on its home turf at the Athletics Complex last year where the program is now 35-10-1 since beginning competition at the facility in 2006. The Lancers are 28-9 at home since attaining its NCAA Division I certification and eligibility for 2007.

Up Next
Longwood will play just one match next week, on the road in North Carolina at Elon University of the Southern Conference on August 25 at 7 p.m.