College athletes come from a variety of backgrounds and from many different locations around the globe. One of the common features many student athletes share is their desire to perform both in the classroom and on the playing field. Lindsey Ottavio is no different. A junior co-captain on the women's soccer team, Ottavio had a breakout season in 2010 scoring 16 goals for the women's squad. It was the highlight of a soccer career that started before she was in grade school.
"I started playing when I was four years old," said Ottavio, a native of Fairfax, Va. "I continued to play all the way through house recreational leagues and moved to travel soccer. Playing on some top league teams really got me to college. Playing Division I soccer has been a dream of mine since I was nine years old."
The Fairfax native has lived there her whole life. Ottavio attended Frost Middle School and W.T. Woodson High School, where she played on the school team. She also played club soccer at the same time. She said her parents have always let her choose in regards to continuing her soccer career.
"My mom and dad have always let me lead the way. It's never been a ‘we want you to do this' type of attitude. If I didn't want to play anymore, my parents would have told me to do what I want to do, that it's up to me. I'm really internally motivated so I can keep myself going. I don't need a lot of other people to influence me."
Ottavio did elaborate on one influence in her soccer career, the 1999 U.S. Women's World Cup team, which included soccer stars Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain. She said the team's victory in the World Cup inspired her at a time when she was really getting interested in the game. "One vivid memory of mine is Chastain scoring the winning goal and ripping off her shirt," said Ottavio, laughing. "I remember thinking that's what it is all about. That emotion and excitement is a feeling that I crave."
Ottavio verbally committed to Longwood at the end of her junior year in high school. She was considering a number of Virginia schools but had narrowed her focus to Longwood and James Madison University. Her desire to get even a little bit of playing time as a freshman instead of sitting for two years was a main reason behind her choosing Longwood. She wanted to have an "immediate impact" and Longwood was a "perfect fit," both for soccer and her major (Kinesiology).
"I want to be a Phys Ed. teacher in the future, so it worked out well," she said. She also elaborated on her relationship with Todd Dyer and Steve Brdarski, the two women's soccer coaches. "They're part of the reason why I came to Longwood," she explained. "They've been my biggest fans and tell me what I need to improve on. They aren't just coaches. They are here to help us develop as people. I always feel comfortable going to them if I need help with anything." Ottavio also said she takes class work very seriously and is very conscientious about her grades.
Illness sidelined Ottavio last December. She had mono, a kidney infection, liver infection, and tonsillitis. She was not able to play all during the spring months. "Overcoming that has been a big struggle, but also a motivator for me because everything was taken away," she said. "I wasn't allowed to go to practice until the middle of March. I got back in April playing a modified way, not all the minutes I usually play. I love running, but I wasn't able to do anything."
She explained how last season for women's soccer was a total group effort with a final record of 11-8. This season the Lancers are 4-5-3. According to Ottavio, this season has been a learning experience and a change for the program.
"We had a lot of seniors last season, five who started. A lot of our game was dictated by those people. We played a completely different style last year than we are this season. We have four to five freshmen playing quite a bit this season and our style of play has moved from down the line and over. This year, we are playing a lot less over the top balls. We're playing more connected and are passing on the ground more."
Ottavio is a forward and last season's "down the line and over" attack fit her playing style. She is considered one of the fastest, if not the fastest, players on the team who can speed up quickly close to the sidelines, receive the ball and outrun defenders. That factored into her 16 goals scored last season; however, the change in game plan in 2011 has limited her to one goal scored. The women's team has been through multiple overtime periods in 2011, something that Ottavio described as "taxing."
"With the new freshmen, loss of key players and new style of play, it has been a more frustrating season as a team. We keep outplaying other teams, but cannot convert goals. It's frustrating for me because I want to score goals and help the team win. We're just not there yet. One of the major things we've had to do this year is take a step back. We're playing good soccer, we're a very fit team and we have to think that the goals will come, create themselves if we keep working hard and going to practice with the right attitude and keep our chemistry up. In the end, we're hoping it will come full circle and work out."
While her big 2010 season was remarkable, Ottavio says she never let it go to her head. "Scoring 16 goals and being one of the top players in the nation was ridiculous. It was everything I could have hoped for, but it was really about the team for me. It wasn't all about me. Ultimately, I wouldn't have been any of that without the rest of the team behind me. I never really got ahead of myself. I'm not the type of person to brag about myself. I don't know if I will ever get to that place again. I enjoyed and embraced it."
Ottavio describes herself as a hard worker who does not quit. She is a vocal leader (often yelling when on the sidelines during games) who prides herself as a team player. Her brother Sam Ottavio plays rugby at Longwood. She plans to play soccer abroad in either Italy or Spain after her collegiate career is over. She likes joking around and keeping everyone loose.
Her outlook for the rest of the season is this: "We would like to reach 10 wins. We thought going into this season we could be one of the best teams record wise that Longwood has ever seen. I don't know how feasible that is going to be at this point, but we want to be the team that we are with the victories."
