OXFORD, Ohio – Twenty-four hours after suffering their first shutout of the season against reigning Mid-American Conference champion Miami, Longwood bounced back in a big way.
 
Backed by goals from Sophia Loscher, Isis Vrolijks and Maroussia Walckiers, the Lancers (5-3, 1-1 MAC) handled Saint Francis (3-5) whistle to whistle to come away with a 3-1 win Saturday afternoon at the Miami Field Hockey Complex.
 
The three-goal game increased Longwood's MAC-leading scoring total to 19 on the season and gave the Lancers their third win in the past four games.
 
"It was nice to bounce back with a win today," said Longwood head coach Iain Byers. "We played much better hockey and moved the ball more effectively. We need to do more this week to be prepared for a well-drilled Central Michigan Friday."
 
After falling 3-0 to MAC preseason favorite Miami Friday, the Lancers responded by doubling Saint Francis' shot total in Saturday's follow-up and putting together their third game with at least three goals this season. All three of those outbursts have come since Sept. 12, during which the Lancers have now outscored their past four foes 13-6.
 
Longwood also came within three minutes of earning what would have been a MAC-leading fourth shutout, but Saint Francis defender Julia Breneman spoiled the clean sheet with a goal that came with just 2:18 left to play. That was Saint Francis' only shot on goal for the game, as Longwood's backfield quartet of Kolbey Donahue, Kylie Levine, Luna Lopez and Ireland McDermott limited the Red Flash to just six shots total, including a span of more than 30 minutes without a single attempt.
 
Meanwhile, Longwood ran up a 3-0 lead by the 35th minute with Loscher starting the scoring in the second period and Vrolijks and Walckiers following with back-to-back scores in a span of less than two minutes early in the second half. Vrolijks' goal was her third of the season, putting her in a three-way tie for the team lead alongside Ana Paula Lazaro and Luna Lopez, while Walckiers' was her second and Loscher's was her first of the year.
 
Walckiers also added an assist, finding Vrolijks with the pass that set up Longwood for a 2-0 lead.
 
The Lancers will now prepare for a return to conference play with MAC rival Central Michigan heading to Farmville for a noon showdown on Friday, Oct. 1. The Lancers have won six straight against the Chippewas and are 6-1 in the series since joining the MAC in 2014.
 
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