FAIRFAX, Va. – Longwood women's lacrosse opened the season strong with an 8-7 win over George Mason on Wednesday afternoon. The Lancers (1-0) used a multi-pronged attack that saw five players score along with a defense that shut down the Patriots (0-2).
 
Result
 
1Q          2Q          3Q          4Q          Final
LWU      1             4             2             1             8
GMU      2             2             1             2             7
 
Top Performers
Emily Cate Smith: 2G, 2A, 4 PTS
Lauren Cerretani: 2G, 3GB
Amelia Carlile: 10 SV
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
The Lancers snapped a six-game losing streak to their in-state counterparts thanks to a defense that forced 13 of George Mason's 18 turnovers.
 
When George Mason did get through the back line, Amelia Carlile was there. The sophomore tallied 10 saves and picked up a ground ball that sealed the game with 10 seconds to play to secure the win.
 
The defense keyed the decisive run in the second quarter that put Longwood ahead in a tight match that saw neither side lead by more than three.
 
After the Patriots took a 4-2 lead, Longwood held GMU scoreless for the next 11:36 to close the quarter while forcing four turnovers. Carlile added three saves.
 
Meanwhile, the offense ripped off a trio of goals to give Longwood the lead at the break, 5-4. Emily Cate Smith started the scoring with 6:56 to go in the half, and Lauren Cerretani tied it up at four apiece two and a half minutes later. Harper Melton put Longwood up for good with her first goal of the 2023 campaign late in the half. Smith led the team with two goals and two assists.
 
From that point on, both defenses proved tough to break down, with the two teams combining for six total goals in the second half.
 
The Lancers extended the lead to 8-5 early in the fourth period on Cerretani's second goal of the game, but George Mason trimmed the gap to one over the next six minutes. The Lancer defense refused to break though, and the Lancers earned their first season-opening win since 2018.
 
WHAT THEY SAID
 
"It's great to start off the season with a win," said Head Coach Kylar Ferguson. "We battled as a team, and we are now turning our eyes to Atlanta. It is a great day to be a Lancer."
 
ADDITIONAL NOTES
 

• Longwood had five different players score a goal.
• Emily Cate Smith led the team with two goals and two assists
• Lauren Cerretani added two goals and a team-best three ground balls
• Longwood scored within the first two minutes in each quarter

 
UP NEXT
 
The Lancers are headed out to Kennesaw State in Georgia for a matchup on Sunday morning. The opening draw is set for 11 a.m., and the game will be aired on the KSU Owls Network.
 
#GoWood #HorsePower