11.3.2011

Box Score

STANFORD, Calif. - The Longwood University field hockey team defeated the University of the Pacific 3-1 in the quarterfinals of the Northern Pacific Field Hockey Conference (NorPac) Tournament on Thursday afternoon in Stanford, California. Sophomore Stacey de Grandhomme|Cape Town, South Africa (Table View) scored the eventual match-winner on a penalty stroke in the 32nd minute, while freshman Jessica Diaz|Chesapeake (Western Branch) and senior Alison Akers|Virginia Beach (First Colonial) added goals for the Lancers (12-8) against the Tigers (2-14). Longwood returns to action on Friday, November 4, when it faces the winner of #2W University of California and #3E Radford University at 7 p.m. ET in the NorPac Tournament semifinals in Stanford.

Longwood led 1-0 after junior Christina Verhulst|Yorktown (Grafton) took the ball into the circle and found an open Jessica Diaz, who shot and scored at 11:04. de Grandhomme scored the eventual match-winner at 31:23 on a penalty stroke. Longwood led 2-0 at halftime and outshot the Tigers 10-4 in the opening period. In the second half, Paige Counsman scored for Pacific at 46:23 to cut the Longwood lead to 2-1. Senior Amanda Babineau|Stafford (Mountain View) had a shot saved on the line by a Pacific defender in the 52nd minute. Alison Akers added an insurance goal at 68:10 after she one-touched a loose ball in front of the cage.

Longwood outshot Pacific 17-9 and had a 9-5 advantage in penalty corners. The Lancers were led by de Grandhomme with seven shots, while Alison Akers attempted four shots, including her first career goal. Junior Kaye Goulding|Tickhill, England (Wakefield Girls) made four saves while playing all 70 minutes in goal. The Tigers were paced by Counsman and Jenna Vivian with two shots each. Ashlee Schlesier made seven saves while playing the duration in goal.

Longwood has won 12 matches for the first time since 2000 when the squad posted a 15-5 record.