4.29.2011

Box Score

DAVIDSON, N.C. – The #3 Longwood University women's lacrosse team defeated #6 Detroit Mercy 16-9 in a quarterfinal game of the National Lacrosse Conference (NLC) Tournament in Davidson, North Carolina Friday night. Senior captain Kesley Dean|Centreville, Md. (Queen Anne's) spearheaded the Lancers' (10-7) victory with six points on three goals and three assists against the Titans (3-14). Longwood will look to upset #2 High Point University in a semifinal game Saturday, April 30, at 2 p.m. for its shot at playing in the finals for an unprecedented third NLC Tournament title.

Longwood held the Titans to just three goals in the first period, leading 8-3 at the intermission. Despite a six-goal second half by Detroit, LU was able to score another eight goals to secure victory, including the game-winner from senior captain Duan Wright|Church Hill, Md. (Queen Anne's) with 24:01 remaining.

Senior Amanda Bereznay|Gwynn Oak, Md. (Seton Keough) scored the first goal of the game with just 1:20 gone, while  40 seconds later Detroit answered via the game's leading scorer Anna Eidem, who added four, before the Lancers surged for a five-goal run to jump ahead 6-1 with 17:54 left. At 12:34, Detroit finally got on the board again, snapping the Lancers' scoring run. In the opening minutes of the second period, the Titans pulled as close as they'd get all game within four (8-4), scoring the half's first goal just over a minute in.

There were 10 Lancers adding offensive arsenal, half of whom finished with multiple goals. Senior Cara O'Brien|Arlington (Bishop O'Connell) added two, continuing her 13-game scoring streak after being held scoreless only once in the regular season and converted two or more goals in all other games but one. Sophomores Jamie Brentlinger|Gambrills, Md. (Arundel) and Stephanie Schenkel| Brentwood, Tenn. (Ravenwood) as well as freshman Emily Whitman|Fairfax (W.T. Woodson) also added two apiece.

Steady in the cage for Longwood was  senior captain Juli Liebig|Centreville, Md. (Queen Anne's), making eight saves and picking up a team-high five ground balls in 43:21. Junior Alicia McCarty|Bel Air, Md. (Bel Air) finished the game's final 16:39, conceding one goal and making three saves with one ground ball.

Longwood outshot Detroit 38-22, grabbed more ground balls (28-26) and won 16 draw controls to the Titans 11.