FARMVILLE, Va.-- In a steady and driving rain the Longwood University field hockey recorded a 3-0 NorPac conference win Friday evening at the Athletics Complex.  The Lancers (2-7, 1-1) were led by a two goal performance from senior Katie Claxton/Virginia Beach (Frank W. Cox) in the win over the Highlanders (2-5, 0-1).  Longwood will return to action on Sunday, September 16, as they travel to Davidson, N.C. to take on the Wildcats in a 3 p.m. conference match-up.
 

After a midfield battle for possession the Lancers took the were able to put their first point on the board just 7:50 into the match.  Senior Cristin Newbold/Norfolk (Maury) one-timed a centering pass from sophomore Julia Hernandez/Norfolk (Maury) that beat the Highlanders’ keeper to put Longwood ahead 1-0.  Radford had three excellent opportunities to knot the game at one mid-way through the half, but the Lancer defense had an all-out solid effort to keep Radford off the board.
 RU’s Becca Devlin tracked down a loose ball right by the left post but pulled a shot just wide.  Off a broken Highlander penalty corner senior goalie Avanell Schmitz/Newport News (Denbigh) made the initial save but the rebound bounced out to Radford’s Megan Lenhardt just inside the circle.  Lenhardt fired a shot at a wide open Lancer net that was knocked out by sophomore defender Kelsey Turner/Virginia Beach (Tallwood) to keep the Highlanders off the board.  On the ensuing penalty corner, Radford had another wide open net after Schmitz made a diving save but this time sophomore Andrea Bastiaanse/Granby, Conn. (Granby Memorial) knocked the ball out to keep Longwood ahead 1-0.
 

Longwood was able to pad its lead to two as Claxton tallied her first of two goals seven minutes before halftime receiving a pass from sophomore Melissa Strickland/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) and chipping it over the charging Highlander goalie for the 2-0 lead.  Claxton knocked in a centering pass from junior Carla Binnewies/Hamburg, Germany (Carl von Ossietzkly Gymnasium) to give the Lancers a 3-0 lead heading into the halftime break.
 

Radford came out of the break threatening to jump on the scoreboard but the Lancer defense and Schmitz kept the game at 3-0.  The Highlanders first opportunity of the half came on a free hit just outside the Longwood circle, but Christine Farichild’s pass went through everyone and went out of play giving the Lancer possession.  Schmitz made a diving save and hit the ball out of the Lancer circle on a one-on-one breakaway with RU’s Lenhardt to keep the shutout going mid-way through the second.  On two Radford penalty corners late in the game senior Erin Murphy/Stafford (North Stafford) came charging out and knocked  away a Highlander pass to keep the visitors off the board.  
 

Schmitz was relieved by junior Erin West/Stafford (North Stafford) with 13:47 left in the game.  Schmitz finished the contest with three saves in 56:13 of action.  West preserved the shut out victory stopping all three shots she faced in the final thirteen minutes of the game.  Radford was anchored by Jennifer Wisniewski who tallied three saves in the loss.  Longwood held a 10-9 margin in shots and recorded nine penalty corners to Radford’s eight.