FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University field hockey team fell, 4-1, against Miami University (Ohio) (2-1) of the Mid-American Conference on Monday afternoon at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. Sophomore Kim Ruiter/Huizen, the Netherlands notched the Lancers' lone goal in the second half of the Labor Day outing. Longwood (1-1) returns to action on Friday, September 6 when the squad takes on Columbia University in Washington D.C. in a neutral-site contest hosted by American University at 1 p.m.

"The first half was under-par for where we've been in the last couple of games," said head coach Iain Byers. "In our second-half performance, we can't fault the work rate and we can't fault the effort. We had a chance three or four minutes into the second half, but the ball sailed over the crossbar. I think if that had gone in, the whole makeup of the game would have been very different. On Miami's fourth goal, we were just pushing forward like you do when you're chasing a game and that leaves holes in the back.

"Overall, there are definitely some positives we can take from this game. We're disappointed with the loss, but it's something we'll learn from. We're planning on a much better performance in our next game against Columbia. We've got two days of preparation, so the team knows we need to be on point."

Longwood controlled the pace of play early in the game, keeping the ball in its offensive zone, but the squad was unable to record a shot. Miami earned the first corner opportunity of the day with just under 20 minutes to go in the half, but the attempt sailed wide. The Redhawks quickly regrouped, however, and converted on their next corner. After several passes around the circle, inserter Emily Gruesser regained control and found Grace Leeker in front of the cage for the shot and score to put MU ahead, 1-0. Longwood threatened to knot the game at 1-1 with less than 14 remaining in half, as freshman Vanessa Tapper/ Virginia Beach made a clean pass to junior Jessica Diaz/Chesapeake for the shot from the center of the circle, but MU keeper Sarah Mueller batted the ball out of play.

The Redhawks scored twice more before the half expired to take a 3-0 edge into the break. The visiting squad converted on a direct corner off the stick of Valentina Neira with 10:30 on the clock before Gruesser, inserting on yet another corner, fed the ball to teammate Gabby Goldach on the wing for the goal.

Longwood came out of halftime on the attack, outshooting Miami, 10-2, in the second half. On the Lancers first attempt of the period, Ruiter dribbled in the circle alone on a breakaway, but Mueller made the diving save. The Lancers came close once again on their next possession, as senior Stacey de Grandhomme/Cape Town, South Africa fired an initial shot, and after the save, Ruiter collected the rebound and followed with a shot of her own, but it missed high, just barely clearing the crossbar. With 18 minutes remaining in the match, Diaz tracked down a long pass from senior Caitlin Smith/Hampton, saving the ball from rolling out of bounds and allowing Longwood to earn a corner, but the squad would not convert on the opportunity, as sophomore Nicole Deckard/Selinsgrove, Pa. launched a hard shot that skidded wide. The Lancers' goal came with less than nine minutes to play, as Diaz put a shot on target before Ruiter scooped up the rebound and sent a shot of her own behind the keeper to the far side of the cage, pulling Longwood within two at 3-1. However, Miami answered with the final goal of the outing, as Carla Romagosa grabbed the ball in the circle and got behind senior goalkeeper Kaye Goulding for the tap in to secure the 4-1 decision for the Redhawks.

The Lancers and the Redhawks each posted 11 total shots in the outing, while Miami took a 5-2 advantage on penalty corners. Ruiter paced the Lancers with five shots in the decision, while Diaz and Deckard added two apiece. Goulding recorded three saves in her complete-game performance. Gruesser led Miami with three shots.

Monday's contest marked the third meeting ever between Longwood and Miami in the sport of field hockey. The Redhawks hold a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series.