November 7, 2009

Box Score

STANFORD, Calif. – The Longwood University field hockey team fell dropped a 3-2 decision to Radford University in the Northern Pacific Field Hockey Tournament Consolation Match on Saturday afternoon in Stanford, California. Senior Julia Hernandez/Norfolk (Maury) and freshman Christina Verhulst/Yorktown (Grafton) each scored for the Lancers. Longwood finished the season with a 10-11 record and a 4-2 mark in conference play.

Longwood struck first when Verhulst deflected a shot by senior Kelsey Turner/Virginia Beach (Tallwood) off of a penalty corner to give the Lancers' a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute. The Highlanders responded nine minutes later when Niamh Connolly collected a deflection and sent a hard shot under Longwood goalkeeper Erin Bollinger/Midlothian (Clover Hill) to tie the match at 1-1 in the 21st minute.

The Highlanders jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the 40th minute when Melissa Register beat Bollinger low and left. Longwood had a golden opportunity in the in the 51st minute when junior Lauren van de Kamp/Midlothian (Trinity Episcopal) had a penalty stroke opportunity but Radford's Jennifer Wisniewski came up with the stop, one of her eight saves on the day. Courtney Poole scored the eventual game-winner in the 60th minute off a rebound. Hernandez took a pass from classmate Samantha Wesser/Williamsburg (Jamestown) and tipped it in the cage to pull within one goal at 3-2. Longwood had one more shot but couldn't convert, falling 3-2.    

“This is an unfortunate way to end our season,”?said Longwood head coach Iain Byers. “We had chances to score, but we were not consistent and that is what hurt us today.”

Longwood was led by Hernandez with four shots. Verhulst and van de Kamp each had three shots, all on goal. Bollinger finished the match with four saves.

Longwood outshot Radford 14-10 and had a 6-5 edge in penalty corners.