Dyer looks to change the tide in 2015
Lancers seek third conference tournament in four years
Derrick Bennington | Sports Staff | @Derrick_Benn
Last year, the fate of the Longwood women’s soccer season came down to the final match. In order to make the Big South Conference Tournament as the 8-seed, the Lancers needed a win against Route 460 rival Liberty University or a tie/loss by either Winthrop University or UNC Asheville.
Neither situation fell into place for the Lancers as they lost 1–0 to the Flames, Winthrop soundly defeated Presbyterian University 4–1 and UNC Asheville stole a 2–1 double overtime victory over Gardner-Webb to claim the 8-seed and make the cut for the Big South Conference Tournament.
“Overall, our record last year was about .500, but we were below .500 in conference (play) so we have to be better,” said head coach Todd Dyer.
Longwood finished the 2014 campaign at 8–8–3 overall, but only 3–5–2 in conference play.
“I think finishing top three the first two years (in the Big South) we took it for granted a little bit, so last year was kind of a slap in the face but it humbled us,” said Dyer. “It helped us hit the reset button and we’re excited to go out and do it differently this year.”
The schedule won’t get any easier this season as Longwood will face three teams that made the NCAA Tournament in 2014. Also, eight of the 20 opponents on tap for 2015 posted double-digit wins as well as five teams that finished in the top 100 in RPI; those five being West Virginia, Virginia Tech, East Carolina, Liberty and High Point.
Fortunately for Dyer and the Lancers, they will face seven of the nine non-conference foes for consecutive seasons as well as return nine of 11 starters from the 2014 squad.
“When you’re playing people you’re familiar with over the years, you kind of have an idea regarding tendencies,” said Dyer.
“I think with some of the bigger schools, Virginia Tech for example, getting to play them pretty regularly gives us a little bit of confidence that we can compete with them,” said Dyer. “The frequency in which we are able to get our teams together helps settle us down a little bit, but they’re still really good teams and hard to beat.”
The first four contests of the season will be played at home in Farmville before a five game stretch on the road followed by a welcoming of defending Big South champions High Point to open Big South conference play.
“We have to defend better, we have to score more goals, we have to be stronger on our home field and we have to be more resilient on the road,” said Dyer. “Every game means something.”
For the fifth time in the past six seasons, the Longwood women’s soccer team will be playing in the G.A.M.E. (Greatest Athletics March Ever), Longwood’s annual pep rally to close out New Lancer Days; the first four days of on campus activities for each incoming freshman class.
“I think the atmosphere itself creates a lot of excitement, a lot of energy that helps our team,” said Dyer. “I know our players are motivated to do well in front of their classmates and fellow Lancers. The turnout of the student body, the faculty, the town community members just adds to the whole experience for all of us.”
The Lancers will open the season against East Carolina and American University for the second consecutive season before finishing their home stand against Youngstown State and Howard.
“Going into (the season), we know we’re one of eleven (teams in the Big South Conference) that has to earn their way in to the final eight,” said Dyer.
