Longwood Women beat Richmond in Double OT 2-1

Lindsey Ottavio, photo credit: Red Rocket Photos

LONGWOOD DEFEATS VISITING RICHMOND IN SECOND OVERTIME 2-1

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University took a 2-1 non-conference women’s soccer double-overtime home victory past the visiting University of Richmond from the Atlantic 10 Conference Friday night at the Athletics Complex in Farmville.  Senior captain Lindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson) scored both goals unassisted for the Lancers (2-1), including the exciting game-winner just 50-seconds into the second extra period.  Ottavio scored her first goal in the 65th minute after the hosts and Spiders (0-3) were scoreless at the intermission.  Longwood will play again on Monday night, August 27, at Howard University of the Great West Conference in Washington, D.C. beginning at 7 p.m.
    
“It’s always exciting to win on a golden goal and to do it against Richmond, one of the strongest teams we face all year, makes it that much more special,” said 19th year head coach Todd Dyer ‘93.  “The first half was relatively even, though we definitely had to weather the storm defensively in the second half.  But even with all of their possession, it took a set piece for them to break us down.
    
“Otto was an absolute force tonight on both goals, and simply would not be denied.  She deserves her hero status for the night.”
    
Longwood and Richmond battled scoreless through the first 45 minutes, and through nearly 20 minutes of the second half before Ottavio took the ball through the middle of the box while beating a defender and the keeper with a shot to the left side of the net at 64:35.  The Spiders, however, controlled most of the action for the remainder of the period and finally moved the net on a header by Ashley Williams from a corner kick by Natalie LeClair in the 78th minute.  It was 1-1 following 90 minutes of regulation, and it remained that way after the first 10-minute overtime session.  Ottaviofinally ended the well-played match successfully for the Lancers at 100:50 when she took a loose ball in the box and once again beat the keeper with a hard shot to the left side for the sudden victory.
    
Richmond took a 17-8 advantage in shots, including 10-5 in attempts on goal, and the Spiders had an 8-3 edge in corner kicks too.  Junior Kelsey Pardue|Henrico (Hermitage) had three shots, two on goal, and Ottavio had her two shots, on goal for Longwood.  Senior keeper Kyra Byron|Richmond (Mills. E. Godwin) played the duration in front of the net for the Lancers with nine saves.
    
LeClair had four shots, three on goal, to lead Richmond while Andrea Young played the duration for the Spiders with three saves.
    
Longwood and Richmond were playing for the seventh time in the sport of women’s soccer, and the Spiders still lead the close series, 3-2-2.