3.8.2012
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University 18th-year women's soccer head coach
Todd Dyer '93 has announced his 2012 recruiting class of nine incoming student-athletes. Those set to join the Lancers this fall include:
Katie Beebe|Round Hill (Woodgrove),
Bridget Bergquist|Bristow (Brentsville),
Olivia Colella|Herndon (Chantilly), Maddi Flanagan|Leesburg (Heritage),
Hailey Machen|Fairfax (Fairfax),
Alana Mackey|Leesburg (Loudoun County),
Meghan Magee|Virginia Beach (Bayside),
Sarah Watson|Newport News (Woodside), and
Haylea Witz|Chesapeake (Grassfield). Longwood will open its 2012 campaign with a home match August 17 against Drexel University of the Colonial Athletic Association at the Athletics Complex in Farmville at 7 p.m. The Lancers first Big South Conference contest will take place on September 20, a home game against UNC Asheville at 7 p.m.
“This is one of our largest ever recruiting classes, but most importantly, it is one of our most talented on paper,” said Dyer. “Now it's simply a matter of identifying individual strengths and potential contributions at this level, and integrating all of these elements into our current team. Our ability and timeliness in pulling this off will influence our level of success in the fall, and we're all very excited to get to work.”
Beebe is a defender who plays for the FCV Cardinals club team. “Katie is a left-sided defender who contributes on both sides of the ball and is also dangerous taking set pieces.”
Bergquist is a midfielder/forward who also plays for the FCV Cardinals club team. “Bridget is quick, feisty, technical and capable of being a threat in a variety of attacking positions.”
Colella is a midfielder who plays for the Chantilly Burn club team. “Olivia combines very tight ball control with creativity, and finds ways to have big moments and an impact on the final outcome.”
Flanagan is a defender who plays for the FCV Cardinals club team as well. “Maddi is a physically strong and fundamentally sound defensive player that also possesses good versatility in the back.”
Machen is a goalkeeper who is yet another member of the FCV Cardinals club team. “Hailey is fearless in her willingness and ability to take physical risks in order to keep the ball out of her own goal.”
Mackey is a midfielder/defender and the fifth recruit in this class who plays for the FCV Cardinals club team. “Alana has all of the tools and temperament to influence the flow of play in all phases of the game and areas of the field.”
Magee is a defender who plays for the Virginia Rush club team. “Meghan has outstanding pace combined with the ability to anticipate the game, step in and diffuse potential goal scoring opportunities.”
Watson is a midfielder/forward who plays for the Virginia Legacy club team. “Sarah has the technical ability and vision to create her own chances or combine with teammates in front of goal.”
Witz is a midfielder/forward who plays for the Beach FC club team. “Haylea can be a multiple threat in the front half of the field with her positional versatility, ability to cover space and tireless work rate.”
Longwood completed its 2011 campaign with a final record of 7-7-4 for its sixth consecutive season with a record of at least .500 or better. Coach Dyer now has an overall record of 193-119-20 (.611) as the program's only head coach, including 14 winning seasons.
