Longwood women fall to VCU in 2010 season opener, host Richmond Sunday

Longwood University dropped a 2-1 women’s soccer road decision at Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) member VCU Friday night at SportsBackers Stadium in Richmond. The Lancers were opening the 2010 regular season as the host Rams scored the decisive goal of the match in the 69th minute for their home victory.

Longwood will return to action this Sunday, August 22, hosting the University of Richmond of the Atlantic 10 Conference at the Athletics Complex in Farmville beginning at 7 p.m. in a match up designated The GAME (Greatest Athletics March Ever), with a picnic, pep rally, and a march from campus to the soccer facility on Johnston Drive prior to the opening kick.

VCU led 1-0 at the intermission as the hosts scored an early goal in the 15th minute when Bex Kunz found the back of net at 14:13 on a shot from the right side to the upper left on a breakaway.

The Rams controlled the action during the first 45 minutes, taking a 13-1 advantage in shots, including 6-0 on-goal. Graduate keeper Marcia Biddle|Woodbridge (Gar-Field) kept it close for the Lancers with five saves in the opening period.

Longwood got on the board early in the second half in the 64th minute when sophomore Lindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson) scored at 63:50 with a nice assist from senior Jessica Varela|Midlothian (Clover Hill) while the duo counter-attacked after a VCU corner kick.

Unfortunately, VCU answered just minutes later as Heather Hovanesian tallied the game-winner at 68:53 on a close shot from directly in front of the goal.

VCU took a 21-6 advantage in shots, though just 8-5 in the second half, including 10-3 overall in attempts on-goal, while the Rams had a 10-1 edge in corner kicks. Biddle played the duration in front of the net for Longwood with eight saves. Megan Lynch played the duration in goal for VCU with two saves.

It was only the second-ever meeting between the two schools in the sport of women’s soccer as VCU leads the young series at 2-0, including a 4-0 win back in 2004.