HIGH POINT, N.C. – In the end, Longwood's All-Big South-laden lineup couldn't keep Big South regular-season champion out of the Big South Championship.
On a day in which a program-record seven Lancers received All-Big South recognition, the undefeated Panthers (10-0-0) spoiled upset-minded Longwood's bid to return to the league title game with a 2-0 takedown in the semifinals of the 2021 Big South Women's Soccer Championship.
Just five days after top-seeded High Point dealt Longwood (4-3-3) a 4-1 loss in the regular-season finale, the Panthers had to fend off a revitalized Lancer squad in the opening round of the four-team tournament. Thanks to a go-ahead strike Juliette Vidal in the 38th minute and a follow-up from Skyler Prillam in the 66th, however, High Point kept its unbeaten season intact and improved to 6-0 at Vert Stadium.
The Lancers entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed on the strength of a 2021 resume that featured a seven-game unbeaten streak and one of the Big South's stingiest defenses but could not slow a High Point offense that has now scored 29 goals in just 10 games this season. The win sends the Panthers to the Big South Championship game for the first time since 2017 when they outlasted Longwood – in the Lancers' first-ever Big South title-game appearance – in a 1-0 barn burner.
"Extreme pride and love for this team is as close as I can come to describing how I feel right now," said Longwood head coach
Todd Dyer after Tuesday night's loss capped his 27th season as the head coach and founder of the program.
"We played with so much heart and commitment today after changing our system and tactics following last week's game against High Point. Our players did everything we asked of them, and we were in it until the very end. Goals change games, and when they got the first one off a set piece, I thought it took the pressure off of them. We kept coming, but we just couldn't quite break through."
The Panthers, led by Big South Offensive Player of the Year Sam Gerhart, Freshman of the Year Salome Prat and Coach of the Year Brandi Fontaine, generated only half as many opportunities in Tuesday's rematch against a Longwood backfield anchored by three All-Big South defenders in first-teamer
Carrie Reaver and honorable mention selections in
Kylie Cahill and
Emily Mothersbaugh, and an All-Big South goalkeeper in
Madison Van Dyke.
However, it was Juliette Vidal who finally broke through with 7:44 in the first half, heading in a lofted head-pass from Lauren Mazich in front of the net to cap a sequence that started less than a minute prior on a corner kick. That strike stood as the game-winner, which was her third of the season.
Big South shots leader Skyler Prillaman added an insurance goal just over 20 minutes into the second half, getting behind Longwood's defense and finishing off the breakaway by beating Van Dyke one-on-one inside the box.
"That High Point team is incredible when it comes to talent, coaching and quality of play," Dyer said. "The fact that we stood toe-to-toe with them is a testament to our players and Longwood soccer. Our seniors leave with their heads held high, and deservedly so. We can't wait to do this all over again in the fall."
The Lancers created multiple chances of their own, but High Point's All-Big South first team goalkeeper Morgan Hairston stopped every one. Hairston came up with five saves, including a diving stop on a close-range shot from All-Big South senior
Kennedy Culbreath, to overcome a Lancer offense that put five of its 11 shots on goal.
The loss ends the senior seasons of Longwood's nine-woman senior class, whose careers started with the program's trip to the 2017 Big South Championship game and concludes with a four-year record of 31-24-11 overall and 20-9-9 in Big South play. All nine of those seniors also earned Dean's List or President's List honors, along with Big South Presidential Honor Roll during their careers.
Longwood is set to return five starters and 19 letterwinners to the team for the fall 2021 season.
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