BOONE, NC. – The Longwood Lancers field hockey team lost Friday night to MAC opponent Appalachian State by a score of 4-0. An offensive explosion from the Mountaineers in the first half gave them an early advantage and propelled them to a conference victory.


Goals (Assists)
 
1' App State: Sarah Farrell (Friederike Stegen)
26' App State: Anna Smarelli
36' App State: Sarah Farrell
41' App State: Anna Smarelli (Pauline Mangold)
 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Offensive opportunities came quickly for App State (7-5, 3-2 MAC), generating two penalty corners in the first two minutes of the match. After Longwood (3-10, 1-4 MAC) successfully defended the first, Sarah Farrell was able to connect on the Mountaineers' second attempt, giving App State an early 1-0 lead. Goalkeeper Lara Van Nunen faced eight shots in the first quarter alone, but held strong to keep it a one-score affair headed into the second.
 
The second quarter began for Longwood with a Hunter-Paige Johnson shot on goal that would ultimately be stopped by App State's Addie Clark. Despite putting up less shots in the frame, App State continued to apply the pressure on the Lancers in the second quarter. The Mountaineers tallied four shots and two corners in the quarter, converting on their second quarter to gain a 2-0 advantage headed into halftime.

The Mountaineers picked up where they left off to start the second half, scoring in the sixth minute of the third quarter on Sarah Farrell's second score of the game. Anna Smarelli added her second of the game five minutes later, and App State held a 4-0 advantage headed into the fourth. Despite registering three shots on goal in the fourth, Longwood couldn't find the back of the net, and App State would come out victorious.


WHAT THEY SAID:

"We need to mark tighter on our girls and be better in one on one defense," said head coach Miranda Rigg following the loss. "We also need to help our defense and save some of these shots."

"We had some good opportunities, just need to work on finishing second phase with simple shot selections," said Rigg on the Lancers' offensive chances.

"Four games left, we are going back to work," said Rigg ahead of the team's match against Lehigh on Sunday. "Nothing to lose, so just go after it."

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
 
Today's match marks the 25^th all-time matchup between the Lancers and Mountaineers, with Longwood leading the series 23-2.
 
Longwood registered nine shots (six on goal) to App State's 18 (nine on goal).
 
Lara Van Nunen had five saves in the match, putting her season total at 56.
 
Five Longwood players recorded a shot in the match, all five of which having an attempt on goal.
  
Longwood defended eight penalty corners in the match while earning six themselves.
 

UP NEXT:
 
The Lancers will return to Farmville to take on Lehigh University on Sunday, October 16. First touch is scheduled for 11 a.m.

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