Last week, the LU women’s soccer team continued their strong start to conference play, only to see them receive their first Big South loss of the season over the weekend.
They began their pair of games during spirit week in Lexington on Wednesday, Oct. 2, playing the Keydets of VMI. Heading into the match, the Lancers (4-6-2, 3-1-0 Big South) were unbeaten (8-0-1) against their in-state rivals and that didn’t change.
Junior striker Kelsey McDonald scored her first of the season just over a minute in, scoring off a rebound past Liz Nickerson, the VMI keeper. Kelsey Pardue’s third goal of the year came after multiple shots on goal and via an Olivia Colella assist early in the 22nd minute. Nickerson was pulled at halftime, opening the door for Emily Marbury. Gina D’Orazio received a long pass from freshman Amanda Spencer in the 55th minute and beat her defender before firing it into the net, finishing the scoring. It was goalie Shelby Hall’s third consecutive clean sheet and fifth of the year.
Head coach Todd Dyer said McDonald’s goal “helped open up the game and that enabled us to get the second goal and build some momentum.”
It was LU’s sixth win in a row over VMI.
The Radford game on Saturday was a rematch between the two teams that met in the semifinals of the league tournament last year, with the Highlanders coming out on top 2-0 in Rock Hill, S.C. Radford. The two time defending league champions, left Farmville with a 1-0 victory over Longwood.
Both teams had an equal number of shots, 10, and there was no scoring for the first 80 minutes of the match. The game seemed destined to go to overtime until Julie Ruh'e played a Sydney Golden through ball past Hall for the first – and only – tally of the match.
“That was everything we expected it to be,” Dyer said. “We were a lot better in the second half, but against good teams, we really have to put in a full 90. That goal we gave up is a tough way to lose, but we can't complain too much because we didn't earn one for ourselves, and we certainly had our chances.”
The series between the two rivals is now tied at 5-5-1. This coming week, the Lancers continue their Big South slate with a pair of games. Tonight, they host High Point at 7 p.m. for their annual LancerStrong promotion, where all student athletes attend the match.
Saturday afternoon, the squad travels to Gardner-Webb for a 2 p.m. kickoff in Boiling Springs, N.C.
