DAVIDSON, N.C. – If good teams respond, then Longwood field hockey was great Friday night.
 
Trailing 1-0 at halftime on the road at Davidson, senior forward Leonie Verstraete scored twice and dished two assists to key a second-half onslaught that saw the Lancers (7-2, 2-0 MAC) score four times en route to a 4-1 win that was their second victory in as many days.
 
Just over 24 hours after outlasting MAC foe Appalachian State 4-3 in double-overtime Thursday, the Lancers dug deep to bounce back from an early strike from Davidson (2-5) and won their MAC-leading seventh game of the season in the process.
 
The Lancers, who entered the week ranked a program-best No. 19 in the NCAA Ratings Percentage Index, have now won at least seven of their first nine games in back-to-back seasons and remain atop the MAC standings with a 2-0 conference record.
 
"We fought really hard in both of these games," said Verstraete, whose six points Friday were a career high.
 
"They weren't easy, and our legs are probably a little tired, but we got the results we wanted. We're looking forward to getting the weekend off, but that doesn't mean we're not ready to go out and prepare to beat Kent State next week. That's a really important game to us; they're a really good team, and it will mean a lot for us in conference."
 
That Verstraete was able to look ahead to next Sunday's showdown against MAC powerhouse Kent State so quickly after Friday's win was no small feat considering the senior forward was just minutes removed from what was statistically the best game of her Longwood career. Her six points were a career high, she had a hand in all four goals in the second half, and she moved into a tie with all-time Lancer great Julie Dayton for eighth place on Longwood's career goals list.
 
Verstraete treated Davidson's goal like a shooting gallery Friday, cracking a team-high 13 of Longwood's 28 shots. But it was her pass to junior teammate Brianna Greene on a penalty corner in the second half that shifted the momentum in the second half. Greene took that feed and punched it past Davidson keeper Sarah Zeszotarski, jumpstarting a rally that saw Longwood score three goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
 
"The first half, we still had good ball movement and we got some good shots off, but there were pieces missing in the puzzle," Verstraete said. "In the second half, we were complete, and we got the result we wanted. What got us there was being patient with the process and not trying to force things. Eventually the goals came."
 
Come they did.
 
Verstraete followed up Greene's goal with one of her own just three minutes later, putting Longwood ahead for good. Eighty-nine seconds after that, Olivia Wawrzyniak added another – her third goal of the week – to extend the lead to 3-1. Verstraete scored once more for good measure, putting the game away with a 68th-minute strike that came on her 13th and final shot of the game.
 
Verstraete and the Lancers treated Davidson's goal like a shooting gallery, amassing a season-high 28 shots and 17 on goal. Zeszotarski stood her ground against that attack in the first half and racked up eight saves, but Longwood eventually broke through. After that, the flood gates opened.
 
"It put our heads back into the game and helped us regain focus," said Greene, whose goal was her second of the season. "We really needed it to pick up our energy and keep our positivity up. We played very hesitant in the first half, but we knew we were a more skillful team. We weren't putting in our best effort, so after the second half we started playing more of our game."
 
Playing that game has served Longwood well in 2018, as the Lancers rank among the MAC's top two in scoring margin and goals against average. Friday night was a lesson in patience and trust in that strategy, as the Lancers outshot Davidson 14-5 in the first half but had only a 1-0 deficit to show for it.
 
"It was a challenging first half," said Longwood head coach Iain Byers, who earned his 99th career win Friday. "Even though we played the ball around well, we couldn't finish in the final third. But we kept plugging away and stuck to our guns, and in the second half we were a lot more efficient. When we got that first goal, our confidence saw us through. Based upon the foundation of hard work, we came away with a solid win against an always challenging Davidson."
 
Now with Friday's non-conference win in the rearview, the Lancers will turn their sights to a three-game MAC homestand that will include showdowns against perennial MAC frontrunners Kent State and Miami (Ohio) on consecutive weekends. The first of those matchups will be against Kent State next Sunday and will be followed by the game against reigning MAC Champion Miami.
 
"We'll rest with two days off this weekend, but we know we have six practices before that game against Kent State," Verstraete said. "Our mindset is going to be key next week. We haven't beaten Kent State yet. We just have to want it bad enough and fight hard. We're a really hard-working team, so if we can move the ball and keep the mindset we've had all season, we'll be good."
 
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