Who Will Win First?
Now that we are officially in the Big South Conference the obvious question turns to who will hoist a Big South championship first? Every one of Longwood’s sports will compete in Big South competition with the exception of Field Hockey. The Big South does not sponsor Field Hockey so the Lancers will enter their eighth season as a member of the NorPac Conference. So which of Longwood’s other sports is ready to immediately step up and take a Big South crown?
Immediate Contender
Softball- The obvious title contender is Kathy Riley’s softball squad. The 2011 team was screwed (for lack of a better word) out of the NCAA tournament and the team has shown it can compete at the highest levels. Brooke Short, Megan Baltzell, and Jordan Cox all return from a young squad that went 29–26 a year ago. The team will now have to rely on less neutral site tournaments and can focus on winning a Big South title.
2012 Big South Champion: Coastal Carolina
Could Contend
Men’s Soccer- The squad was 3–1 against Big South teams a year ago. Although the team lost some key players, the 2012 version of the Lancers is a veteran one coming off an Atlantic Soccer Conference championship. The Lancers return six seniors and two juniors, while also bringing in a talented recruiting class.
2011 Big South Champion: Liberty (Coastal Carolina also received a NCAA bid)
Women’s Golf- Amanda Steinhagen and Ariel Witmer have what it takes to make an immediate impact in the Big South. If the rest of the team gets hot at the Big South championship then the Lancers can definitely take the crown.
2012 Big South Champion: Campbell
Women’s Soccer- The squad continues to grow and was 1–2–1 against the Big South last year. They may be a year off, but this year’s team could make some noise this year with some a lot of players returning.
2011 Big South Champion: Radford
Wild Card
Men’s Basketball: The team has so many new additions to the roster that there is no telling how they will gel. The Big South is without a clear cut power in basketball this year, so the season may come down to whomever gets hot at the Big South tournament in Myrtle Beach.
2012 Big South Champion: UNC Asheville
Women’s Basketball: Liberty is the traditional power in women’s basketball for the Big South, but their imminent departure may open the door for other programs. Like the men’s program, the women’s team is adding a lot of new pieces and will need some time to come together. They are certainly heading in the right direction though.
2012 Big South Champion: Liberty
Lacrosse: The Big South will be a lacrosse league for the first time ever this year. Last year’s Lancers’ Lacrosse squad struggled, but with the new league everything could be up for grabs in 2013.
No Chance
Baseball: This is nothing against Buddy Bolding’s squad but Coastal Carolina is a perennial power in the college baseball scene and the scary thing is that Liberty is not far behind them. It will be near impossible to knock off both the Flames and Chanticleers in route to a NCAA bid.
2012 Big South Champion: Coastal Carolina
Men’s Golf: Once again, no offense to the program but this is a result of the other school’s involved. Coastal has always been a power and has produced pros like Dustin Johnson. Recently, Liberty has grown to power and even finished tenth at the NCAA championship this year. Remember the name Robert Karlsson because you’ll likely be hearing it on Sunday afternoons.
2012 Big South Champion: Liberty
Photo Via CRS Sports News
