The LU women’s soccer team played three games over the course of the last week as the Big South season winds down. First, they fell to Campbell University (6-10-0, 2-7 Big South) losing 1-0 on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at the Athletics Complex in Farmville.
The Lancers (9-8-2, 8-3-0 Big South) partnered up with the National Foundation of Cancer Research (NFCR) to participate in this fundraising campaign to spread cancer awareness. The women’s soccer players each wore jerseys specifically for the event with lavender ribbons on the front to auction off and contribute to the cause. Along with the generous donations, both the team and the field hockey team were able to raise over $1700 for NFCR.
This humbling event was immensely heartfelt as it hit close-to-home to Women’s Soccer Head Coach Todd Dyer. Dyer said, “Well, I mean, this is the first time that we did it. It’s probably something that we should have started doing a long time ago, but with my brother passing away recently it kind of brings it to the forefront. We’ve done something similar in the past with Wounded Warrior and auctioning jerseys, I thought that was a good idea.
“A lot of people work together to help make it happen as far as donating the jerseys, organizing the events … It’s a great cause. I’m just glad we got it going. It is something we will do year-in and year-out from now on.”
The first half of the game, the Lancers offensively dominated over the Campbell defense with quick and consistent passing and aggressive play from the players. In conjunction, the Lancer defense did a fantastic job blocking every opportunity the Camels had offensively. The half concluded with no points on the scoreboard.
At the start of the second half, with 51:54 on the clock, the only goal of the game was scored by Campbell forward Lilja Bjork. The goal was unassisted and found its way past Longwood goalkeeper Shelby Hall, amongst the crowded confusion at the goal.
Despite the enthusiastic crowd and smart plays from both the offense and defense, the Camels held on and won, 1-0. The Lancers had a 13-5 shot advantage over the Camels and led 6-3 in attempts on goal as well.
“We got a little tight instead of just relaxing and being a little more patient. Defensively, for the most part, we kept them in front of us. They didn’t break us down, but the goal that they scored was just about outworking us in that one moment, and that was enough to win the game,” Dyer said.
The Lancers played UNC-Asheville on Saturday in North Carolina and came home with a 4-0 win over the Bulldogs. Junior Kelsey McDonald and freshman Amanda Spencer each scored once in the first half, and freshman Gina D’Orazio and sophomore Lilly Payne scored one each in the second.
Last night, on Senior Night, the Lancers gave up a goal in the 82nd minute and fell to Liberty 1-0. Longwood has a first-round game on Saturday in the Big South Tournament at the Athletics Complex. The opponent will be decided tonight.
