October 14,

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va.-- Longwood University field hockey took on its second consecutive ranked opponent Sunday afternoon, falling 6-1 to #8 James Madison.  The loss puts the Lancers at 5-12 on the season, while the Dukes picked up their eighth straight win standing at 13-2 on the year.  Longwood will return to action on Wednesday, October 17, when they face #19 Virginia in its final home game of the year.  The game is slated for a 6 p.m. start.

James Madison opened the scoring on a penalty corner 13:46 into the game.  Megan Bain tipped a shot by Melissa Walls past Longwood’s senior keeper Avanell Schmitz/Newport News (Denbigh) for the Dukes’ 1-0 lead.  JMU padded their lead to two after the Dukes’ Walls knocked in a penalty stroke four minutes later for the 2-0 lead mid-way through the half.  Schmitz and the Lancer defense fended off three JMU shots, including a defensive save by senior Erin Murphy/Stafford (North Stafford) but a whistle stopped play and the official signaled for a penalty stroke putting Walls at the stripe.

After Melissa Stefaniak tipped in a loose ball in the circle for the 3-0 lead, the Lancers began to catch their stride in the offensive end, drawing their first penalty corner of the afternoon with 3:22 left in the first half.  Senior Katie Claxton/Virginia Beach (Frank W. Cox) fired a shot at the top of the circle toward the Dukes’ net.  Sophomore Julia Hernandez/Norfolk (Maury) put her stick on the shot and tipped the ball past JMU’s Merel Broekuizen for the 3-1 halftime score.

JMU controlled the majority of play in the second half, and tacked on three goals in the final thirty-five minutes for the 6-1 final.  Schmitz tallied 12 saves in 63:57 of action before being relieved by junior Erin West/Stafford (North Stafford) with 6:03 left in the game.  JMU was anchored by Kelsey Cutchins, Broekhuizen and Kristen O’Rourke in the win.  The Dukes out shot Longwood by a 28-2 count and held a 7-3 advantage in penalty corners.