FARMVILLE, Va. – For the first time in 494 days, Longwood women's soccer got to play on their home field.
The Lancers made sure it was well worth the wait.
Behind a goal and two assists from Kennedy Culbreath, and goals from Madison Lockamy and Alex Dinger, Longwood beat Gardner-Webb 3-0 on Sunday afternoon at the Athletics Complex in Farmville.
The Lancers (1-0-1) outshot the Runnin' Bulldogs 21-6, including a 10-to-1 advantage in shots on goals. Culbreath and Dinger each led the offensive charge with five shots apiece, their second consecutive game each recording at least four shots.
The pair connected for the eventual game-winning goal in the opening half, as Culbreath fed a pass into the box that Dinger was able to redirect into the net for the game's opening goal in the 12th minute. It was the second consecutive game Dinger found the back of the net on a Culbreath feed, as the freshman has now tallied goals in two consecutive games to start her collegiate career.
"It always feels good to get that first win of the season under our belt," said Longwood head coach Todd Dyer. "It's even more rewarding when you're playing a conference-only season. We had some nervy moments defensively, but we were still strong enough to earn the shutout."
Culbreath, who nearly doubled the Longwood lead in the first half when she got behind the Gardner-Webb (1-2-0) defense and poked a shot off the inside of the right post, was able to break through for her first goal of 2021 in the second half. After Dinger's shot on goal was denied, Culbreath got to the loose ball and put it away to give the Lancers a 2-0 lead in the 55th minute.
Culbreath picked up her second assist of the game, and third this season, with under 10 seconds remaining to put the icing on a 3-0 Longwood win. Kiersten Yuhas played a perfect ball to Culbreath down the sideline, who then sent a perfect cross into Lockamy who headed in the third Lancer goal.
"Offensively I like the way we pressed the issue, and we had three goals to show for it in the end," Dyer added. "All of this against one of the best teams in our league who have played in the last two tournament finals. We can still be better, so we will focus on that now."
Longwood's backfield was equally dominant and held Gardner-Webb to just one shot on goal, which senior goalkeeper Madison Van Dyke handled to earn her 10th career shutout. Defenders Kylie Cahill and Carrie Reaver both contributed 90-minute marathons to that effort, while fellow starting defenders Emily Mothersbaugh and Alayna Palamar also played nearly 70 minutes.
Now off to an unbeaten start in Big South play, the Lancers will get five days to prepare for another conference battle Friday against rival Charleston Southern in Charleston, S.C.
#GoWood
