October 28, 2006

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va.-- The Longwood University field hockey team recorded a 3-2 win over Davidson Saturday afternoon, in its final game of the 2006 season at the Athletics Complex in Farmville.  Longwood finishes the 2006 campaign with a 5-13 overall record and 2-4 NorPac conference mark, while Davidson falls to 8-11 on the season and 1-5 in conference play.
    
In an action filled first half, Longwood and Davidson combined for five goals and two lead changes on a windy afternoon in Farmville.  Longwood controlled the opening minutes of the game, as the Lancers earned three penalty corners in the first ten minutes, but were unable to convert as the Davidson defense stood strong keeping the game scoreless.  The Wildcats took a quick transition and turned it into a goal as Kelly Brennan picked up a rebound and fired it past keeper Erin West/Stafford (North Stafford) for the early 1-0 lead with twenty minutes to go in the half.

Longwood kept the pressure on and tied the game at one with 9:58 to go in the half as Julia Hernandez/Norfolk (Maury) and Cristin Newbold/Norfolk (Maury) connected for the Lancer’s first goal.  Newbold pulled Davidson’s keeper Rachel Kiselewich out of the goal and found Hernandez running in from the left side unmarked.  Newbold laid a pass to Hernandez who one-timed it in the back of the net for her fourth goal of the season.  Davidson went back up by one a short time later, as Catherine Ransone took a pass from Britti Himelfarb and beat West for the 2-0 lead.  

Longwood quickly regrouped and tallied two quick goals to take a 3-2 halftime lead.  Freshman Samantha Wesser/Williamsburg (Jamestown) tallied her first goal in her career at Longwood to tie the score back at two with 5:59 to go in the half.  Newbold found Wesser at the top of the circle open and gave her a pass that Wesser controlled and fired in knotting the game at two.  The Lancers go-ahead goal came on a penalty corner late in the half, as freshman Kelsey Turner/Virginia Beach (Tallwood) took a pass from sophomore Danielle Woodie/Fredericksburg (Chancellor) and fired it in giving the Lancer the lead for good.  Newbold, also was credited with an assist giving her three assists on the day.

Davidson tried to tie the game in the final minutes, but the Longwood defense and West kept everything out of the back of the net.   West had a strong performance in net for Longwood stopping eight of ten shots she faced in the win.  Longwood held a 14-13 edge in shots and 13-4 advantage in penalty corners.