October 26, 2008

BOX SCORE

DURHAM, N.C. - The Longwood University field hockey team had its hands full on Sunday afternoon falling to #4 Duke 6-0. The Lancers fall to 8-10 on the season with just one game remaining in regular season play, while the Blue Devils improve to 14-3. The team will return home for their final regular season game on Friday, October 31, hosting William and Mary at 6 p.m. at the Athletics Complex for Senior Night. The Lancers will honor their five seniors prior to the start of the match.

Duke took control of the game from the start, outshooting the Lancers 13-1 in the first half while netting five goals by the end of the period. Longwoods lone first half shot came from senior Carla Binnewies/Hamburg, Germany (Carl von Ossietzkly Gymnasium) in the 31st minute. The 5-5 midfielder fired her shot from the top of the shooting circle, but had it blocked by the Blue Devil defense.
   
The Longwood defense continued to find itself under pressure in the second half, with Duke posting 10 second half shots to the Lancers one. Despite the lopsided shot count the Lancers played a much stronger second half, playing composed defense and settling the ball down.
   
Junior Sam Wesser/Williamsburg (Jamestown) took a crack at goal in the 67th minute forcing the Duke goalkeeper to make her first save of the game. Wesser's shot came minutes after Duke netted its sixth goal of the game to take a 6-0 lead.
   
Sophomore Erin Bollinger/Midlothian (Clover Hill) picked up her first complete game of the season, earning a .670 saves percentage after coming up with 11 huge saves.
   
“Whenever you play an ACC [Atlantic Coast Conference] team you know you're in for a battle,” head coach Iain Byers said. “Duke is ranked fourth in the nation and they showed why this afternoon. We didn't play up to our potential in the first half, but came out much stronger in the second half, however we still could have played better. Now we're just looking to regroup for our match against William and Mary, which will be special since it is Senior Night and our final regular season game.”