FARMVILLE, Va. – Sophomore Nicole Deckard/Selinsgrove, Pa. logged a career-high two goals for four points to help propel the Longwood University field hockey team to a 5-0 shutout victory against Northern Pacific Field Hockey Conference (NorPac) and in-state rival Radford University (4-12, 2-3) on Senior Day at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. Senior Stacey de Grandhomme/Cape Town, South Africa, sophomore Hollie MacDonald/Yorktown and freshman Rachel Lombardi/Marlton, N.J. added one goal apiece in the decision, marking the first points of Lombardi's career. Freshman Vanessa Tapper/Virginia Beach notched an assist for the second consecutive game, while classmate Colleen Hoffman/Stafford recorded her first career assist in the outing. There was a special pre-game ceremony to recognize graduating seniors de Grandhomme, Kaye Goulding/Tickhill, England, Nicole Segala/Williamsburg and Caitlin Smith/Hampton. Longwood will play its final three, regular-season matches on the road, beginning at No. 3 North Carolina on Wednesday, October 23 at 6 p.m.

"That was our best performance of the season so far by a mile," said head coach Iain Byers. "The way we moved the ball around made us very proud, particularly on Senior Day. We think we gave the senior class a sendoff in style. To keep a clean sheet and to be so successful in the front line was something that both the team and coaching staff was very happy with. We were effective in the front line and our press was strong, as well.

"We're looking forward to our next game. It's going to be difficult against UNC, which is one of three tough games left. This put us in a good position in our conference, so it will be interesting to see how the rest of the games go. We can only focus on what we can do, but if we keep performing like we did today, we have good things to look forward to."

Radford recorded the first chances of the day after earning a penalty corner, but the pair of Highlander shots was turned away. Longwood quickly took control of the pace of play, notching a 13-3 shot advantage in the first half. Deckard received a long pass in the center of the circle to put the Lancers' first attempt of the day on target, but it was kicked away by RU keeper, Sidney Encarnacion. With just over 25 minutes remaining in the first, the Lancers' offense pressured, as sophomore Jennifer Burris/Virginia Beach put a shot behind the goalkeeper that was cleared on a defensive save by Jordan Vrhovac. Longwood got on the board less than 14 minutes into play when Tapper drew the keeper out and dished a pass from the left side for de Grandhomme, who followed through with the tip in. After controlling the momentum for 11 minutes, the Lancers extended their margin to 2-0, as Deckard collected her own rebound for a second shot that found the left sidewall of cage at 24:57. The Highlanders had a chance on a shot by Morgan Ames that was followed by a scuffle in front of cage, but Goulding made the stop. With less than two minutes to play in the half, Burris sent a bouncing pass from the right side to Lombardi on the left corner of cage for the sweep in, giving the Lancers a 3-0 edge at the break.

The squads played back and forth in the early part of the second half with neither side able to register a shot for almost 10 minutes. Burris broke the silence with a turnaround backhand attempt that sailed just wide. Radford earned a pair of corners and three shots, but Goulding saved the first before the latter two were blocked. Longwood pulled away, 4-0, at 56:59 after a pass across circle was deflected by a Highlander and MacDonald gained possession for the putback. RU came close to getting on the board on yet another corner with a high backhand attempt, but the ball was batted out of the air by Goulding. With less than two minutes to go in the game, Hoffman fired from the top of the circle before Deckard stretched out for the one-handed deflection on goal to seal the 5-0 decision for the Lancers.

Sunday's contest marked the 24th meeting between Longwood and Radford in the sport of field hockey. The Lancers now hold a 17-14-3 edge in the all-time series.