Lancers Women's Soccer Announce 2013 Schedule

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University 20th-year women’s soccer head coach Todd Dyer ‘93 has announced his upcoming 2013 Schedule that features six Big South Conference home matches among the 11 league contests, as well as a visit to the Athletics Complex in Farmville by in-state opponent James Madison University.  The Lancers finished 2012 with an overall record of 13-6-2, including 8-2-1 in its first season as members of the Big South, and were 8-1-1 at home where the program is 48-15-3 since beginning competition at the facility in 2006.  Longwood is 41-14-2 at the Athletics Complex since attaining its NCAA Division I certification and eligibility for 2007.  The Lancers will play a preseason exhibition match at home against Appalachian State University on Saturday, August 17 at 1 p.m.  The regular season opener is on the road at North Carolina State University of the Atlantic Coast Conference on Sunday, August 25 at 7 p.m. in Raleigh, North Carolina.
   
“This is by far the most challenging schedule we've ever faced and that's exactly the way we want it,” said Dyer.  “For our program to continue moving forward, it is an absolute must that we keep raising the bar as it relates to the level of competition we measure ourselves against.  We've done that with this schedule and we all embrace this opportunity and are eager to get to work.”

   
Big South Conference home matches include Coastal Carolina (September 25, 7 p.m.), in-state rival Radford University (October 5, 7 p.m.), High Point University (October 9, 7 p.m.), Charleston Southern University (October 19, 2 p.m.), Campbell University (October 23, 7 p.m.) and in-state rival Liberty University (October 29, 7 p.m.).  Big South road contests include Winthrop University (September 28, 1 p.m.), in-state rival VMI (October 2, 4 p.m.), Gardner-Webb University (October 12, 2 p.m.), Presbyterian College (October 16, 7 p.m.) and UNC Asheville (October 26, 1 p.m.).  The Big South Women’s Soccer Championship will include quarterfinal matches at the higher seeds among the top eight teams on November 2, followed by semifinal matches on November 8 and the championship contest on November 10 to be hosted by Coastal Carolina in Conway, South Carolina.
   
“I don't think we snuck up on anyone last year, but this year everyone in the Big South knows more of what to expect when they face our Longwood team and I'm sure they'll all be very prepared for us,” explained Dyer.  “On that same note, we haven't won anything in this league yet, so we're extremely motivated to see what we can accomplish throughout the regular season and post-season tournament.  We have tremendous respect for all of our Big South opponents, especially those programs that have earned championships in the past, and until we can add that label to our own resume, we have tons of work to do.”
   
Longwood’s non-conference home opponents include Howard University (August 27, 7 p.m.) and James Madison (September 22, 7 p.m.).  Other road contests include Saint Joseph’s University (September 6, 7 p.m.) and Drexel University (September 8, 12 p.m.), as well as the team’s participation in a tournament hosted by UNC Wilmington that includes matches against Elon University (September 13, 5 p.m.) and the host Seahawks (September 15, 2:30 p.m.).
   
“N.C. State from the ACC … JMU, UNCW and Drexel from the CAA … St. Joe's and Richmond from the A-10 … need I say more?” added Dyer.  “On top of that, we face a strong Elon program at a neutral site and Howard is always a very organized, athletic and stubborn opponent that we get to play at home this year.  All in all, this is the toughest non-conference schedule we've ever faced and it's purpose is to better prepare us for league and tournament play.  I have no doubt we'll be battle tested once we've navigated our way through the entire 2013 schedule and I'm excited to see where that leads us when all is said and done.”
   
Longwood returns five starters among 20 letterwinners from a year ago, and has added seven freshmen to the roster for 2013.  Coach Dyer has an overall record of 206-125-22 (.615) as the program's only head coach, including 15 winning seasons.