August 22, 2010
BOX SCORE
PHOTO GALLERY
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University dropped a 1-0 women's soccer decision to the University of Richmond from the Atlantic 10 Conference Sunday night at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. The contest was played before a record-crowd of over 1,300 in a match designated
The GAME (Greatest Athletics March Ever) with a picnic, pep rally, and a march from campus to the soccer facility on Johnston Drive taking place prior to the opening kick. The visiting Spiders, however, spoiled the excitement with the lone goal of the match in the 55th minute for their road victory. Longwood will return to action on Friday, August 27, hosting the University of Maryland, Baltimore County of the America East Conference at the Athletics Complex in Farmville beginning at 7 p.m.
Longwood and Richmond battled through a scoreless opening 45 minutes in front of a raucous crowd of 1,308, the largest to ever witness a fall sporting event at Longwood University. The Spiders took an 8-4 advantage in shots during the first half, though only 3-1 in attempts on-goal. Graduate keeper
Marcia Biddle|Woodbridge (Gar-Field) made three saves in the opening period for the Lancers, while junior Melissa Pacheco made one stop for UR.
Richmond got on the board early in the second half at 54:04 when freshman Becca Wann got loose down the middle of the field and beat the keeper one-on-one with a shot to the lower left corner. The Spiders would continue with the pressure for much of the half, outshooting Longwood 15-5 with eight attempts on goal, but sophomore keeper
Kyra Byron|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) made seven saves after replacing an injured Biddle in the 56th minute. The Lancers had a pair of good scoring opportunities back-to-back in the 86th minute, but the first shot was blocked and the second attempt went wide.
“Aside from the result, I have nothing but positive feelings about tonight's events,” said head coach
Todd Dyer '93. “We knew Richmond would be a formidable opponent and it would take something special to get past them. That didn't quite happen for us, but we learned some lessons that will help us in the future and we showed the fight that will be necessary for us to improve and earn our way into the win column.
“However, during all my time here, four years as a student and now in my 17th year as head coach, I have NEVER seen anything like tonight in terms of the Longwood spirit and experience. Beginning with the pep rally on campus and continuing with the march to the stadium and support throughout the game, tonight's event was such an amazing spectacle for our university and community, and it truly created some Longwood memories that will last a lifetime.
“Our coaching staff and players are so thankful for all of the work so many people put into making tonight such a wonderful occasion. The student, faculty, and community support showed tonight was so special and our team looks forward to returning the favor in the future.”
Richmond took a 23-9 advantage in shots, including 11-3 in attempts on-goal, while the Spiders had an 8-2 edge in corner kicks. Biddle played the first 55:41 in front of the net for Longwood with three saves while allowing the one goal. Byron played the final 34:19 for the Lancers with seven saves. Pacheco played the first 45:00 in goal for Richmond with one save, while Andrea Young played the final 45:00 for the Spiders with two saves.
It was the fifth meeting in five years between the two schools in the sport of women's soccer as Richmond now leads the all-time series at 3-1-1.
