4.16.2011

Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University women's lacrosse team fell to visiting Navy 9-6 on Senior Day Saturday afternoon at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. Senior Cara O'Brien|Arlington (Bishop O'Connell) led the Lancers (8-7, 4-2 NLC) with two goals, adding to her team- and conference-high 43 (9a, 52p). She also added three ground balls and as many draw controls with two caused turnovers. LU plays its final regular season game at Liberty in Lynchburg, Virginia on Thursday, April 21, at 4 p.m.

Despite two early goals off the sticks of O'Brien and senior captain Kesley Dean|Centreville, Md. (Queen Anne's), which gave Longwood its only lead (2-1) of the game at 20:25, Navy's goalkeeper Michelle Verbeeck came up with 12 saves to stifle the majority of Longwood's chances. She also held the Lancers to their fewest goals all season. Senior captain Duan Wright|Church Hill, Md. (Queen Anne's) tied the game at 3-3 with 12:24 remaining before half, and after two more Navy goals were scored, freshman Mary Barondess|Centreville (Westfield) finished a chance at 3:29 to go that kept Longwood down only one at the intermission (5-4).

Neither team was able to get much offensive production in the second half, scoring just six total goals in the 30 minutes, two by Longwood. The Mids did outshoot the Lancers 12-9 in the second half, while both teams took 17 shots in the first. Longwood won the battle in ground balls 23-17 but earned only five draw controls - its lowest total all season - to Navy's 12.

Senior captain Juli Liebig|Centreville, Md. (Queen Anne's) played the duration (60:00) in the cage for the Lancers with 10 saves, four ground balls and two caused turnovers. Verbeeck also collected two ground balls for Navy and played the entire game.

In addition to O'Brien, Dean, Wright and Liebig, the two other seniors recognized during post-game ceremonies were Amanda Bereznay|Gwynn Oak, Md. (Seton Keough) and Lauren van de Kamp|Midlothian (Trinity Episcopal). Bereznay took one shot - on goal - and collected one ground ball. van de Kamp nabbed four ground balls.