RICHMOND, Va. -- Goalkeeper Kendall Clifton recorded five saves in a shutout performance to lead VCU to a 2-0 win over the Longwood field hockey team Friday night at Cary Street Field.

Clifton faced pressure up until the final whistle, as Longwood fired 13 total shots on the night, but the senior goalkeeper anchored the defense for a blocked shot to earn her second shutout of the season. With the win, VCU ended its two-game losing streak to the Lancers after dropping contests to them in each of the past two seasons.

Goalkeeper Katie Wyman anchored the Lancers' strong defensive play with all three of her saves coming in the first half, but in the 33rd minute Emily McNamara scored from the right side of the arc off a penalty corner to put VCU up 1-0 heading into the half.

The Rams took a 2-0 lead in the 52nd minute, as Jamee Albright scored her seventh goal of the season from in front of the cage on a loose ball to help the Rams outlast an aggressive Lancer attack that fired six shots in the second half. Despite taking fewer shots than Longwood, the VCU squad had an efficient night with five of their seven shots on goal.

The Lancers last chance to avoid being shut out came on a penalty corner taken by Jennifer Burris, one of their five corners on the day, that led to two last-second shot attempts from Leonie Verstraete which ended up being blocked away by the VCU defense as time expired.

Longwood falls to a 5-10 overall record with two games remaining in the regular season. The team currently sits in fifth place in the Mid-American Conference at 2-3, with one conference game left this year.

The Lancers will face Missouri State in Springfeld, Mo., in their last MAC matchup of the season Saturday, Oct. 3. Game time is set for 11 a.m.

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