FARMVILLE, Va.-- Longwood University field hockey battled with a tough offensive power Stanford University and held the Cardinal scoreless until the 8:33 mark of the second half, falling 1-0 Wednesday evening in Farmville.  The Lancers (0-5, 0-1) were anchored by Avanell Schmitz/Newport News (Denbigh) who tallied a career high 20 saves in the loss, while Stanford remained undefeated, 4-0 in the season and in the conference, 2-0.
 

Longwood was pinned in its end for most of the first half, but kept the Cardinal off the board on the strong play of the Lancer defense and Schmitz.  Stanford was able to collect eight penalty corners in the opening 35:00, but could not convert as Schmitz turned away all nine shots she faced.  The Lancers’ best opportunity of the half came on a change of possession that found the Stanford midfield out of position late in the first half.  Katie Claxton/Virginia Beach (Frank W. Cox) sent a clearing pass down the left line that Lauren Sullivan/Fredericksburg (Stafford) chased down and made her way into the Stanford circle for a one-on-one.  The Cardinal’s goalie Madison Bell charged Sullivan and kicked the ball out ending the threat and sending the teams into the lockerroom in a 0-0 tie.
 

Stanford and Longwood came out of the break energized as each squad was looking for the go ahead goal.  The Cardinal pressure continued in the opening minutes of the second stanza as the Cardinal were awarded five consecutive penalty corners.  The Lancer defense rose to the occasion and kept everything out of the goal to keep the game scoreless.  The strong play of Schmitz continued as the senior keeper stopped Stanford breakaways on two occasions mid-way through the half and made a diving stick save on a shot off a penalty corner.
 

With just under twelve minutes remaining in the game Claxton picked up a loose ball at mid field and found Melissa Strickland/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) striking down the middle of the field and put a through ball into the circle that was cleared out by a charging Bell to keep the game at 0-0.
 

With a scrum in front of the Lancer net with 8:30 to go in the game, Stanford’s Jessica Zutz picked up the loose ball and fired a shot through traffic in the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.  Longwood continued to battle and had a chance late in the with a reverse shot off the stick of Strickland that went just wide.  Stanford regained possession and kept the ball to run out the final seconds to preserve the 1-0 win.
 

Stanford outshot the Lancers by a 25-4 count and held a 15-1 count in penalty corners.