BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va.-- The Longwood University field hockey team broke a five game winless streak against VCU Sunday afternoon, handing the Rams a 3-2 loss at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. VCU has controlled the last five meetings with Longwood, as the Lancers last win came in 1999 season (3-2) before Sunday’s victory. Longwood now moves to 3-4 on the season while Virginia Commonwealth falls to 1-6. Longwood will be back in action on Friday, September 22 when it travels to Baltimore for a 4 p.m. contest with the UMBC Retrievers.

“This win was an all-around team effort,” said ninth year head coach Nancy Joel. “The girls came out ready to go, beating VCU to every free ball and shutting down the open space.”

Longwood wasted no time putting a point on the board as freshman Kelsey Turner/Virginia Beach (Tallwood) took her own rebound off a penalty corner and slid the ball back to the Rams’ net, beating the goalie for her first collegiate goal and the 1-0 edge. VCU struck a short time later, as Nikki Lloyd knotted the score at one, just 3:15 into the match.

“We have improved game-by-game and it showed today, scoring a goal in the first three minutes of the game,” stated Joel. “Our forward line, especially Carra Bunner really gave the VCU defense a hard time all afternoon with their speed and stick handling.”

Longwood built a 3-1 halftime lead as junior Cristin Newbold/Norflk (Maury) and freshman Julia Hernandez/Norfolk (Maury) each recorded a goal in the final ten minutes. Newbold redirected a shot by senior Katy Lernihan/Fredericksburg (Chancellor) at the 13:08 mark in the first half. Hernandez, who’s three goals this season leads the team, scored a short time later, sliding a shot past Laura Baker as she was falling to the turf, padding the Longwood lead to two goals going into the break.

The Rams came out of the halftime break looking to chip away at the Lancer lead, having the Longwood defense and junior keeper Avanell Schmitz/Newport News (Denbighl) buckle down. The Rams were able to cut the game to a one goal deficit when Rebecca Sullivan knocked the ball to Jenna Harris who fired it in putting the score at 3-2 with 26:48 to go in the game. That would be it for VCU as Schmitz and junior Erin West/Stafford (North Stafford) combined for the win in net turning away 10 shots.

“Our defense and midfielders did let VCU carry out their game plan of attacking up the middle,” explained Joel. “We played disciplined, keeping the attack from coming up the middle and through VCU’s Nikki Lloyd. The win is a great stepping stone for us as we head up to UMBC next weekend.

FARMVILLE, Va.-- The Longwood University field hockey team broke a five game winless streak against VCU Sunday afternoon, handing the Rams a 3-2 loss at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. VCU has controlled the last five meetings with Longwood, as the Lancers last win came in 1999 season (3-2) before Sunday’s victory. Longwood now moves to 3-4 on the season while Virginia Commonwealth falls to 1-6. Longwood will be back in action on Friday, September 22 when it travels to Baltimore for a 4 p.m. contest with the UMBC Retrievers.

“This win was an all-around team effort,” said ninth year head coach Nancy Joel. “The girls came out ready to go, beating VCU to every free ball and shutting down the open space.”

Longwood wasted no time putting a point on the board as freshman Kelsey Turner/Virginia Beach (Tallwood) took her own rebound off a penalty corner and slid the ball back to the Rams’ net, beating the goalie for her first collegiate goal and the 1-0 edge. VCU struck a short time later, as Nikki Lloyd knotted the score at one, just 3:15 into the match.

“We have improved game-by-game and it showed today, scoring a goal in the first three minutes of the game,” stated Joel. “Our forward line, especially Carra Bunner really gave the VCU defense a hard time all afternoon with their speed and stick handling.”

Longwood built a 3-1 halftime lead as junior Cristin Newbold/Norflk (Maury) and freshman Julia Hernandez/Norfolk (Maury) each recorded a goal in the final ten minutes. Newbold redirected a shot by senior Katy Lernihan/Fredericksburg (Chancellor) at the 13:08 mark in the first half. Hernandez, who’s three goals this season leads the team, scored a short time later, sliding a shot past Laura Baker as she was falling to the turf, padding the Longwood lead to two goals going into the break.

The Rams came out of the halftime break looking to chip away at the Lancer lead, having the Longwood defense and junior keeper Avanell Schmitz/Newport News (Denbighl) buckle down. The Rams were able to cut the game to a one goal deficit when Rebecca Sullivan knocked the ball to Jenna Harris who fired it in putting the score at 3-2 with 26:48 to go in the game. That would be it for VCU as Schmitz and junior Erin West/Stafford (North Stafford) combined for the win in net turning away 10 shots.

“Our defense and midfielders did let VCU carry out their game plan of attacking up the middle,” explained Joel. “We played disciplined, keeping the attack from coming up the middle and through VCU’s Nikki Lloyd. The win is a great stepping stone for us as we head up to UMBC next weekend.