Lancers Women Beat Presbyterian in OT, 200th Career Win for Todd Dyer

LONGWOOD DEFEATS BIG SOUTH OPPONENT PRESBYTERIAN 2-1 IN OT

Lancers’ 19th-year head coach Todd Dyer Earns Win #200

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University won its second consecutive Big South Conference women’s soccer match Saturday afternoon, taking a 2-1 home win in overtime past Presbyterian College at the Athletics Complex in Farmville.  Junior Kelsey Pardue|Henrico (Hermitage) scored the exciting game-winning goal in the fifth minute of OT for the Lancers (7-3, 2-0 Big South), unassisted, and sophomore Kylie Dyer|Farmville (Prince Edward) added the first goal against the Blue Hose (0-9, 0-2 Big South), assisted by senior captainLindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson).  The league triumph was also the 200th career coaching victoryfor 19th-year head coach Todd Dyer ‘93 (200-122-20).  Longwood will play again on Thursday, September 27, on the road at Big South member Charleston Southern University in Charleston, South Carolina at 3 p.m.  

Lancers Women's Head Coach Todd Dyer

    
“Throughout the course of a season, you’re going to face moments of adversity,” said Coach Dyer.  “This was one of those moments and we responded in a positive way by gutting out a result against a very organized and resilient Presbyterian squad.  We have to be better as we move forward and now we have a good idea of what we have to work on in training this week.”
    
Longwood and Presbyterian were scoreless at the intermission before Kylie Dyer, the daughter of the head coach, received a nice ball into the box from Ottavio and promptly finished to the left corner of the net at 50:46 for the 1-0 advantage.  It was Dyer’s second goal this season, and the third assist for Ottavio.  The Blue Hose, however, battled back and were able to tie it at 1-1 on a goal from Brittany Whitson at 65:57.  The Lancers nearly won it at the end of regulation but missed an opportunity from point-blank range in the 89th minute. Pardue, who had two goals and two assists on Thursday during a 4-0 shutout past UNC Asheville, tallied the game-winner at 94:59 when she dribbled up the middle through traffic and shot successfully to the right upper 90 to give Coach Dyer his 200th coaching win.  It was Pardue's fourth goal this fall, including her third game-winning goal.
    
“200 is a nice milestone and what it really reflects is that I’ve been fortunate to do what I love, at a place I love, for a long, long time,” added Coach Dyer.  “I’m blessed to have had the privilege of working with so many great people these past 19 years.  Our program’s future is very bright due to all of their hard work.”
    
Longwood took a 14-7 advantage in shots, and it was 6-4 in attempts on goal, while a 9-1 margin on corner kicks.  Ottavio had four shots, three on goal, and Kylie Dyer added two shots, one on goal, to lead Longwood.  How appropriate that Kylie Dyer scored a goal on this special day for her father.  Senior keeper Kyra Byron|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) played the duration in front of the net with three saves for the Lancers.
    
Presbyterian had seven shots from seven different players, while keeper Jordan Broadway played the duration for the Blue Hose with four saves.
    
Longwood and Presbyterian were playing for the fourth time in the sport of women’s soccer, and the Blue Hose still lead the series, 2-1-1.
    
It was also Joshua Bolt Day as the Longwood women’s soccer program recognized Joshua and the Bolt family during a special pre-game ceremony, and dedicated the match against Presbyterian to Joshua.