September 28, 2008

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University field hockey team (5-5) dropped a hard fought game against #5 North Carolina  on Sunday afternoon at the Athletics Complex, falling to the Tarheels 3-1. The Lancers lone goal came from senior midfielder Carla Binnewies/Hamburg, Germany (Carl von Ossietzkly Gymnasium), who put in her team leading eighth goal of the season. Longwood returns to action on Monday, September 29 at 6 p.m., when #1 Wake Forest comes to the Athletics Complex.
   
“Whenever you play a team with the caliber of North Carolina it's only going to make your program stronger,” head coach Iain Byers said. “I have to take my hat off to UNC with the way they approached the game. We learned a lot about ourselves from this game. It was great for us to get a goal as it only helps show that we can play with strong programs. I give a lot of credit to our team and the hard work that they put in this week preparing for this game.”
   
Despite playing the defending National Champions and currently ranked Tarheels, the Lancers came out in the first half ready to show that they can hang with the best. Both teams battled back and forth without a result until the 20th minute, when Danielle Forword on North Carolina collected a rebound in the circle and placed it in the net. Just seconds later the Tarheels would put another one in the net (21:35), when an errant pass allowed Forword to capitalize with her second goal of the game.
   
After falling behind by two quick goals, the Lancers would take a moment to regroup themselves before slowing down the pace of the game. The two teams would continue to flip-flop possession in the first half, with North Carolina having the better chances. North Carolina would squeeze out one more goal before the half, as Illse Davids slipped Katelyn Falgowski the ball to an open net.
   
The second half began with the Lancers applying high pressure on the Tarheels, catching them in their end of the field for half of the period. Longwood would finally be able to capitalize on one of its chances in the 52nd minute of the game, as Binnewies cut the lead to 3-1. The goal came after Binnewies picked up the ball in the circle and lifted it over the keeper, finding the upper netting of the far post.
   
The Lancers would come close to slipping in two more goals, but would come up short handed.
   
Senior goalkeeper Erin West/Stafford (North Stafford) had a big game for the Lancers, coming up with 10 saves, while her defense made two saves.
   
“We played as a team,” freshman defender Olga Knop/Berlin, Germany (Wener von Siemens Gymnasium). “We played with a lot of passion and came out to show that we can play with the big dogs. We had a great game and look to take this momentum and confidence with us into our game against Wake Forest.”