April 12, 2006

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. --  The last time the Longwood University women’s lacrosse team faced off against Atlantic Coast Conference member Virginia Tech it needed double-overtime to defeat the Hokies (15-14, 2004), but today the Lancers held off a late surge by Virginia Tech to earn a 15-13 win in regulation at the new Athletics Complex in Farmville. Senior midfielder Emily Bikowski/Fairfax (Bishop O’Connell) helped secure the Longwood victory by scoring a game-high five goals; including three in the second half. The Lancers, who have won three-straight, improved their record to 4-9 with the victory, while the Hokies fell to 4-7 overall. LU will be back in action on Friday, April 21 when it welcomes Saint Mary’s to Farmville. Game time is slated for 4:00 p.m.

Leading 7-5 at halftime, Longwood scored four goals, while limiting Virginia Tech to just one over the first 11 minutes of the second stanza to gain a comfortable 11-6 lead. Bikowski, senior attacker Ali Shafer/Fairfax (Fairfax), junior attacker Cathleen Strain/Alexandria (Mount Vernon), and freshman midfielder Lauren Barnaba/Bel Air, Md. (The John Carroll School) accounted for the four Lancer goals.

Virginia Tech gained some momentum though and rattled off five-straight goals to knot the game at 11-11 with 10:53 left to play in the contest. Natasha Fuchs, Stephanie Jones, Terri Coover, Kady McBrearty and Lindsay Pieper all scored for the Hokies.  

Longwood did not fold, as Bikowski stopped Virginia Tech’s scoring barrage by scoring her fourth goal of the contest at the 8:48 mark to give the Lancers back the lead.

The Hokies again tied the game when Fuchs scored her third goal of the contest at 6:57, but three-straight goals over the next three minutes by the Lancers gave Longwood a commanding 15-12 advantage with 2:14 remaining in the contest. Bikowski, freshman midfielder Liz Sellmayer/Baltimore, Md. (Mount de Sales Academy) and freshman midfielder Ann Rae Keel/Westminster, Md. (Westminster) each scored to give Longwood some breathing room.

The Lancer defense buckled down, allowing just one goal by the Hokies in the final minutes, and Longwood secured the two-goal victory.  

Virginia Tech held the 34-28 advantage in shots and a 19-13 edge in ground balls. Senior goalkeeper Emily Wilson/Owings, Md. (Northern) made 12 saves for the Lancers, while Hokie goalkeepers Megan Waters and Caitlin Thomas combined for eight saves.