April 14, 2010

Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University women's lacrosse team dropped a 15-14 heartbreaker to Virginia Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference on Wednesday afternoon at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. Junior Karli Brentlinger/Gambrills, Md. (South River) and junior Cara O'Brien/Arlington (Bishop O'Connell) each scored four goals for the Lancers (6-7). Longwood returns to action on Saturday, April 17, when they face Le Moyne College in a neutral-site matchup in Detroit, Michigan, at 1 p.m..

Virginia Tech (6-9) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after controlling the possession for the first four minutes. The Lancers got on the board when O'Brien scored with 20:25 remaining in the first half. The Hokies scored on a free position attempt before O'Brien scored her second goal of the game to cut the lead to 4-2. Virginia Tech answered 30 seconds later but freshman Jamie Brentlinger/Odenton, Md. (Arundel) scored to trim the deficit to 5-3. The Hokies scored two of the final three goals to take a 7-4 lead in to halftime.

The Lancers struck first in the second half when sophomore Sam Stifler/Jarrettsville, Md. (North Harford) scored one minute in to the period to cut the lead to 7-5. Virginia Tech scored a pair of goals to extend the lead to four at 9-5 with 22:27 remaining before Karli Brentlinger and junior Kesley Dean/Centreville, Md. (Queen Anne's) scored back-to-back goals to pull Longwood within two goals at 9-7 with 18:49 remaining. Neither team could score for five minutes but the Hokies scored two quick goals to push the lead back to four at 11-7 with 13:24 remaining. The two teams traded goals before O'Brien and junior Morgan Illian/Salisbury, Md. (Parkside) scored consecutive goals to cut the lead to 12-10. After the teams traded goals again, the Hokies scored two times in just over 30 seconds, the second goal on a free position attempt, to lead 15-11 with 5:00 remaining. Karli Brentlinger scored a pair of goals and O'Brien added a third to pull the Lancers within one, the closest they had been since 1-0, with 2:49 remaining.

The Hokies controlled the draw after the goal but Stifler forced a turnover with 2:37 remaining to give Longwood the ball only trailing by one goal. The Lancers turned the ball over with 1:07 left in the game and never regained possession, falling 15-14.

Karli Brentlinger led Longwood with four goals on nine shots with three ground balls and three draw controls. O'Brien scored four goals on eight shots. Illian added two goals on seven shots with a game-high six ground balls while Dean scored two goals. Junior goalkeeper Juli Liebig/Centreville, Md. (Queen Anne's) gave up 13 goals with 12 saves in 54:15 between the posts.

Virginia Tech was led by Morgan Widlake with four goals on six shots with a game-high four draw controls. Caitlyn Wier scored three goals with two assists while Allie Emala and Jessica Nonn each scored three goals with one assist. Alex Gale received the win in goal, giving up 14 goals with 18 saves.

Longwood out-shot Virginia Tech 38-32, including 23-17 in the second half. The Lancers also had an edge in ground balls (24-14) while the Hokies had the advantage in draw controls (19-11). Longwood was 0-6 on free position attempts while Virginia Tech went 3-6.