September 29, 2008

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University field hockey team (5-6) dropped an exciting game against the top ranked team in the country on Monday night at the Athletics Complex, as Wake Forest defeated the Lancers 4-1. Senior Carla Binnewies/Berlin, Germany (Carl von Ossietzkly Gymnasium) once again scored the Lancers lone goal, increasing her season total to nine and continuing her scoring streak to four straight games. Longwood returns to action on October 5 as the team heads on the road to take on Radford at 3 p.m.
   
The first half of action was an exciting one for the fans in attendance, as both teams battled back and forth keeping things close. The Lancers posted their best crowd of the season with over 400 fans in attendance to cheer on the team and help raise money for the teams Invisible Children fundraiser.
  
“The fan support was amazing,” head coach Iain Byers said. “They really made the environment fun. We are taking a lot away from this game and the UNC game. The score is obviously not what we wanted, but Wake Forest is a great team. We play games like this to challenge ourselves and gage where we are as a program. Also, these games are instrumental in helping us in our constant preparation for the NorPac Tournament. “
   
Wake Forest jump on the board early, after earning a penalty corner in the second minute of action, in which Minou Gimbrere fired into net. The Demon Deacon goal would be short lived as the Lancers answered back in the ninth minute with a goal of their own. The Lancers goal would come off a penalty corner of their own, with Binnewies taking a crack at goal, courtesy of a put in by sophomore Lauren Van de Kamp/Midlothian (Trinity Episcopal) and stop by freshman Olga Knop/Hamburg, Germany (Wener von Siemens Gymnasium). The two teams would continue to send play up and down the field until the 24th minute, when Wake Forest went up 2-1. Once again the goal would come off a penalty corner with Gimbrere finding the net.
   
The Lancers were able to keep the stats close to Wake Forest in the first half, as the Demon Deacons on had a 6-3 advantage in shots and 6-2 lead in corners. The second half would be a completely different story for the Lancers, who were unable to get a shot off.
   
Wake Forest came out at half time determined to put the game away, holding the Lancers in their end of the field for the majority of the half. The Lancers would get unlucky in the 60th minute as the Demon Deacons earned a penalty stroke in which Regina Shannon converted into a 3-1 Wake lead. A little less than 10 minutes later Wake Forest would once again find the back of the net with Michelle Kasold blasting the ball past the Lancers defense.
   
Senior goalkeeper Erin West/Stafford (North Stafford) played a stellar game for Longwood, coming up with nine saves. Junior Kelsey Turner/Virginia Beach (Tallwood) registered her second and third defensive saves in two games, while helping anchor the defense.