RADFORD, Va. – A 2-0 defeat at the hands of third-place Radford snapped Longwood's seven-game unbeaten streak, but the Lancers got a nice consolation prize in the form of a guaranteed spot in the 2021 Big South Championship.
On a day in which the Highlanders (6-2-1, 5-2-1) used two early goals from Alexeis Kimos and Izzy Armstrong to deal the Lancers (4-1-3, 4-1-3 Big South) their first loss of the 2021 season, Longwood's body of work paid dividends elsewhere.
With Presbyterian falling 3-1 to first-place High Point earlier in the day, Longwood secured an invitation to the four-team Big South Championship based on a league record that will net no fewer than 15 points in the standings. At 4-1-3 with one match remaining in the regular season – an April 7 trip to undefeated High Point – Longwood can finish no lower than fourth and earned an automatic trip to the semifinals of this year's abridged, two-round Championship.
"It's a bittersweet feeling for our program today," said Dyer, who has led Longwood to the Big South Championship in seven of the program's eight years as a member of the league.
"We are disappointed with our performance today, but on that same note due to another result in conference we qualified for the postseason and an immediate spot in the semifinals. Our soccer could've been better today, but our body of work over the season so far is something to be proud of."
For the first time since the COVID-postponed 2020-21 Big South soccer season began in February, the Lancers came out on the losing end of the final score. The Highlanders, who entered the game 4-1-1 over their past six matches, jumped out to an early lead behind Kimos' fourth-minute penalty-kick goal and punched in one more 30 minutes later.
"That PK in the first few minutes was definitely a shock to the system and had a big influence on how things unfolded for us," Dyer said. "We simply weren't able to overcome it."
That early flurry made Radford the first team to score multiple goals against Longwood – which had allowed just two goals total in seven games prior – and provided a large-enough cushion for the Highlanders to play defensive-minded soccer in the second half. The result was also only the third shutout the Lancers have suffered this season after their lone shot on goal, from Madison Lockamy, was turned away by Radford keeper Lexi Dean.
"This group has shown a ton of quality and grit thus far, and that's why we didn't taste defeat until our eighth game of the season," Dyer said. "We've exceeded others' expectations with a top-four finish, and we still have a lot to play for."
Longwood's seven-game unbeaten streak is the program's longest to start a season in the Division I era and the third longest in program history, trailing only the 2001 squad's 12-game tear (10-0-1) and the 1995 team's 10-game streak (10-0-1) – both of those coming under Dyer's leadership.
Before embarking on their road to the Big South Championship, the Lancers will prepare for their biggest test of the season against unbeaten High Point. That game is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff in High Point, N.C., this Wednesday.
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April 04, 2021 at 06:26AM
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Lancers Suffer First Loss at Radford but Secure Big South Tourney Bid - Longwood Athletics
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