LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Longwood University completed its Big South Conference women’s soccer regular season on Tuesday evening, taking a 1-0 shutout road victory at in-state school Liberty University in Lynchburg.  Junior Kelsey Pardue|Henrico (Hermitage) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 18th minute for the Lancers (13-5-1, 8-2-1 Big South), who secured a top three finish in the league standings against the host Flames (11-7-2, 5-4-2 Big South).  Senior keeper Kyra Byron|Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) made four saves en route to the team's 10th shutout this season, her eighth this fall, and the 15th shutout of her career to rank in a tie for third all-time.  Longwood will host a Big South Conference Tournament Quarterfinal match on Saturday, October 27, against an opponent to be determined at the Athletics Complex in Farmville at 6 p.m.
    
Longwood scored the only goal of the contest at 17:31 on the successful penalty kick by Pardue.  The PK was awarded to the Lancers after freshman Olivia Colella|Herndon (Chantilly) was knocked down in the box.  It remained a one-goal game at the intermission, and the two teams battled scoreless through the second period as well.  Neither squad had a real good look at the goal in the second half, though Liberty did manage seven corner kicks.
    
“Going into the game, we needed a tie or a win to finish in the top four of the league and host a first round game of the tournament,” said 19th-year head coach Todd Dyer ‘93.  “We grinded out a tough 1-0 result against a strong Liberty team and a lot of that credit should go to how we defended as a group after converting the penalty kick.
 
“Now we get to embrace our first postseason opportunity in the Big South and see how far it takes us.”
    
Liberty had a 12-8 advantage in shots, though Longwood had a 6-4 edge in attempts on goal, and the Flames had a 9-3 lead on corner kicks.  Pardue had three shots, two on goal, and senior captain Lindsey Ottavio|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson) had two shots, both on goal, for the Lancers.  Byron played the duration in front of the net with the four saves, and was aided on the shutout by senior defensive stalwarts (captain) Natalie Massey|Virginia Beach (Landstown) and Chelsea Walter|South Riding (Freedom), sophomores Taylor Cave|Virginia Beach (Kellam) and Rebecca Soares|Virginia Beach (Kempsville), along with freshmen Meghan Magee|Virginia Beach (Bayside), Alana Mackey|Leesburg (Loudoun County) and Katie Beebe|Round Hill (Woodgrove).
    
Brittany Aanderud had four shots, one on goal, for Liberty, while keeper Karen Blocker played the duration for the Flames with five saves.
    
Longwood and Liberty were playing for the 12th time in the sport of women’s soccer, and the Flames continue to lead the series, 6-4-2.  Longwood continues to enjoy its finest season since 2002 (15-3-1).

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