Longwood Women Shutout UNC Asheville 4-0

LONGWOOD WINS BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE OPENER PAST UNC ASHEVILLE 4-0

Longwood Junior Kelsey Pardue (courtesy LongwoodLancers.com)

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University won its first-ever Big South Conference women’s soccer match Thursday night, taking a 4-0 home win past the University of North Carolina-Asheville at the Athletics Complex in Farmville.  Junior Kelsey Pardue|Henrico (Hermitage) scored what proved to be the winning goal in the fourth minute for the Lancers (6-3, 1-0 Big South), assisted by senior captain Lindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson), as the hosts scored all four goals during the first 21 minutes against the Bulldogs (2-7, 0-1 Big South).  Pardue added a second goal, and two assists, while sophomore Kelsey McDonald|Kennett Square, Pa. (Unionville) and freshman Alana Mackey|Leesburg (Loudoun County) each added goals as well.  Longwood will play again on Saturday afternoon, September 22, hosting Big South member Presbyterian College at the Athletics Complex in Farmville at 2 p.m.  It will be Joshua Bolt Day as the team will recognize Joshua and the Bolt family during a special pre-game ceremony, dedicating the match against the Blue Hose to Joshua.  Admission is free.
   
“That was our first Big South game ever and we used all of that energy and excitement to get things started off the right way,” said 19th year head coach Todd Dyer ‘93, who earned career coaching win number 199.  “Kelsey Pardue was special tonight and was a real catalyst for us offensively.  The defensive shutout was equally impressive for our team.”
   
Longwood jumped out to the early advantage when Ottavio got free down the right side of the field and played a nice ball into the box to Pardue who finished with her hard shot into the net at 3:19.  Pardue returned the favor when she fed the ball in from the left side to Mackey who beat the keeper left at 11:43.  Pardue added another assist as she played a through-ball to McDonald who shot successfully to the right corner at 18:07.  Pardue completed the scoring outburst when she got free down the middle of the field and beat the keeper one-on-one at 21:00.  It capped an amazing effort by Pardue who was involved in all four goals (two goals, two assists) … she now totals three goals and three assists this season.  It was Ottavio’s second assist, while McDonald scored her first goal, and Mackey earned her first collegiate goal.
   
Longwood took a 10-9 edge in shots, it was 6-6 in attempts on goal, and the Lancers had a 6-4 edge on corner kicks.  Pardue had three shots, each on goal, to lead Longwood.  Senior keeper Kyra Byron|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) played the first 45 minutes with three saves, junior keeper Shelby Hall|Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) played the first 32:44 of the second half with three saves, and redshirt-sophomore Dana Wallace|Charlottesville (Home Schooled) played the final 12:16 as the three combined for the Lancers’ shutout.  It was the first collegiate action in front of the net for Wallace.
  
Kaitlyn Eckert had three shots to lead UNC Asheville, while keeper Heather Muller played the duration for the Bulldogs with two saves.  Longwood and UNC Asheville were playing for just the third time in the sport of women’s soccer, and the Lancers now lead the series, 3-0.

Little Lancers Kids Club Soccer Clinic
The Little Lancers Kids Club will be conducting a free soccer clinic hosted by the women’s soccer team after Saturday’s match against Presbyterian.  The clinic will last approximately 30-45 minutes with free food and drink available after the clinic, as well as an autograph session with Elwood and the Lancers.  This event is open to members and non-members who are interested in gaining more information about the Little Lancers Kids Club.