Dupuy sets LC scoring mark in 3-0 win over Christopher Newport

It took less than nine minutes for Lynchburg College forward Dessi Dupuy to give the Hornets an early lead in their final regular-season match against visiting Christopher Newport Wednesday at Shellenberger Field, and LC cruised to a 3-0 victory.

Of course, the talented freshman who graduated from E.C Glass less than six months ago has wasted no time in making an impact. Dupuy went up in crowd of three defenders, got her head onto Brittany Klippstein’s corner kick and redirected the ball into the netting for her school record-setting 26th goal of the season.

"It feels good, but I couldn’t have gotten here without my team," Dupuy said. "Half of it was them and I’m just really happy to have the record. I wasn’t expecting [this much success so quickly]. I wasn’t even expecting to start or anything. It’s been a really good season and I’ve had a lot of fun. Let’s just hope we can keep it up."

Karen O’Connor, who scored 25 goals in 1997, was the previous record holder. O’Connor is the ODAC’s all-time leading goal scorer with 79 tallies.

"It was an exciting night," LC coach Dr. Todd Olsen said. "Dessi stands in really good company with Karen O’Connor. That was a really great feat for Dessi to surpass. It was a great goal. It was very indicative of the kind of goal she scores. She was in the right place at the right time. She reads the game so well."

As of Oct. 23, Dupuy was sixth in Division III women’s soccer in goals per game (1.389) and was tied for third in total goals scored at 25. Dupuy’s total of 26 goals nearly doubles that of the ODAC’s second-place goal-scorer, teammate Angela Bosco (14 goals).

The ODAC record for goals scored in a season belongs to Randolph-Macon’s Jennifer Foster, who scored 32 goals in 1989. Dupuy could have a shot at that record depending upon how long Lynchburg stays alive in the postseason. There is the potential for three games to be played in the ODAC tournament and the possibility of NCAA tournament games after that.

Dupuy and the rest of the team can turn their attention to playoff soccer.

"Oh my gosh (yes it is a relief to get the record)," Olsen said. "I try not to think about those things, but I count her goals as much as anyone. I’m just excited she’s got it and we don’t have to be thinking about it anymore. Now she can just start padding it."

Lynchburg (16-2-1) added pair of second half goals against the Captains (7-7-1) and cruised in its final tune-up before the ODAC tournament that begins on Saturday when the 13th-ranked and top-seeded Hornets host eighth-seeded Emory & Henry. The time has not been announced yet.

"This was a really important game for momentum," Olsen said. "This is playoff soccer. Teams you may have beaten badly earlier won’t let you do it again that easily because they are literally playing for their season. We’ve got to understand that, come out ready and play every game really hard."

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