Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University field hockey team fell, 6-2, against No. 5 Duke University (2-2) of the Atlantic Coast Conference on Sunday afternoon at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. Freshmen Nicole Deckard and Jennifer Burris supplied the goals for the Lancers (0-4) in the outing. Longwood returns to action on Wednesday, September 5 at 7 p.m. when it hosts VCU.

“A poor start to the game put us behind, and that always makes for an uphill battle against a team like Duke,” said head coach Iain Byers. “We know we need to get better and will work hard to prepare for VCU on Wednesday.”

The first half was full of offensive action, as the teams combined for seven goals. Duke took an early lead with three goals in the first 4:19 of play. Emmie Le Marchand deflected in a pass from Jessica Buttinger to score the game's first goal. Devon Gagliardi followed with a goal of her own on a corner opportunity before Buttinger put one in unassisted to make it 3-0.

The Lancers quickly retaliated with back-to-back goals less than two minutes apart. Longwood's first goal came on a penalty corner, when freshman Hollie MacDonald picked up the loose ball and fed a good pass to Deckard for the score with just over 17 minutes left in the first half. On the next time up the field, freshman Kim Ruiter dribbled into the right side of the circle and crossed a strong pass to Burris, who tipped it in to make it a one goal game.

Duke found the back of the cage twice more before the first half expired. Sarah Urdahl found Chelsea Amsley for a goal before Gagliardi scored her second of the day to send the Blue Devils into halftime up, 5-2.

After almost 27 minutes of scoreless action, Gagliardi completed the hat trick with the game's only goal of the second half to seal a 6-2 victory for Duke.

Freshman goalkeeper Meg Mitchell recorded six saves in the outing. The Blue Devils outshot the Lancers, 24-3, and forced more corners, 14-3. Today's game marked the 14th meeting between Longwood and Duke in the sport of field hockey, with Duke holding an undefeated record in the all-time series.