No. 3 Longwood Advances to Semifinals with 3-0 Win Over No. 6 Charleston Southern
"Survive and advance" is the postseason mantra of many a championship-minded team.
In the quarterfinals of the Big South Championship Friday, Longwood advanced, but they did much more than just survive.
The No. 3 seed Lancers (12-4-3) made a statement in their opening-round game, controlling both ends of the field en route to a one-sided 3-0 win over No. 6 seed Charleston Southern at the Longwood Athletics Complex. The win propels Longwood to the Big South semifinals for the second straight year where they will take on No. 2 seed and Commonwealth rival Liberty Friday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. at Bryan Park in Greensboro, N.C.
Backed by goals from junior midfielder
Kelly Almeida, Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Teresa Fruchterman and Big South Defensive Player of the Year
Sydney Wallace, the Lancers extended their unbeaten streak to a Big South-best nine games and logged their conference-leading 10th shutout of the year to tie the program's Division I single-season record.
After earning first-round hosting privileges following a third-place Big South finish in the regular season, Longwood exploited its home-field advantage to the tune of a 28-10 shot advantage, setting season highs in both shots and shots on goal (17) in the process. Nine Lancers put shots on goal, berating Charleston Southern goalkeeper Alyssa Dellacqua, who racked up 13 saves but allowed Almeida's first-half goal and two more in the second half from Fruchterman and Wallace.
Wallace, Freshman of the Year
Carrie Reaver and All-Big South second team defender
Taylor Alvey and goalkeeper
Maria Kirby lived up to their billing, holding Charleston Southern (5-11-2) to just five shots on goal. The Bucs spent the bulk of the second half unable to get past a Longwood midfield unit anchored by All-Big South first-teamer
Janese Quick, who registered a pair of assists, both in the second half.
The Lancers have now won seven of their past nine games entering Friday's semifinal showdown against rival Liberty and are just one win shy of tying the 2012 team's all-time Division I wins record of 13.