OXFORD, Ohio – Freshman forward Alexis Nugent scored two goals Sunday afternoon, her second on a penalty corner in the 66th-minute, as Miami (Ohio) outlasted a gritty Longwood field hockey team 2-1 in a battle of first-place teams in the Mid-American Conference.

"We played really tough and I think we had a chance to win the game and could have late. We're obviously disappointed that we didn't, but it shows the standard of play and we're excited to meet them again in the conference tournament if we get that chance," said 10th-year head coach Iain Byers, who has led the Lancers to their first 10-win season since the 2013 campaign.

Trailing Miami (6-6, 4-0 MAC) by a goal entering the break on Nugent's first mark, Longwood (10-3, 3-1 MAC) senior defender Lil-Sophie Achterwinter answered and tied the game at 1-1 on her fourth goal of the season in the 50th-minute and set the stage for late-game drama.

"We fought hard and didn't give up even though they were leading 1-0 after the first half. Coming out in the second half, we were giving Miami high pressure and got a lot of chances, which led to us tying the game," Achterwinter said.

Nugent's second goal of the day - and sixth on the season - came on a penalty corner with just under five minutes remaining, pushing the RedHawks past the Lancers for the top spot in the conference while also snapping Longwood's MAC win streak at three straight to open conference play.

The late goal from Nugent came after two quick saves from Miami goalkeeper Maddie Passarella, who shut down a great Lancer goal-scoring chance and keep the score tied at 1-1.

In a defensive struggle that lasted the entire 70 minutes, team captains Achterwinter and Katie Wyman led a Lancer defense that stood tall on many occasions as Wyman tied her career high with an eight-save performance.

"Miami scoring in the last four minutes was just tough luck for us." Achterwinter said. "I think we performed well but obviously didn't get the result we wanted. However, this is not going to put us down, it will just light a fire in us for the rest of our conference games."

Achterwinter's second-half tally was her fourth this season, a new career-best after scoring three in 2016 and two in both her freshman and sophomore campaigns.

Sunday's loss was just the third time all season the Lancers have allowed more than one goal as they still sit among the top of the MAC and NCAA in goals allowed (14 in 13 contests) and goals against average (1.36). With just three games remaining in the regular season, Wyman's 1.36 goals against average is the best in a single season by a Lancer goalkeeper in the Division I era, dating back to the 2007 season.

After the three-game road swing, Longwood returns home Sunday, Oct. 15 when they host Ball State on senior day where eight Lancers will be recognized for their dedication and hard work for the program over the past four seasons. Those eight seniors are Achterwinter, Kate Colley, Maddie Kendrick, Brenna Kinzel, Lorissa Morton, Edel Nyland, Abbey Ripley and Sarah Vrhovac.

In their time playing for the blue and white, the eight Lancers have collected 32 wins and helped the program make its first MAC Championships appearance last season. This season alone, the senior members have helped guide Longwood to its first 10-win season since stepping foot on campus before the 2014 campaign.

"The senior class is very excited for our last home game as the eight of us have become such close friends over the past four years pushing and improving each other on and off the field, which makes it such a special moment for us sharing our last home game with each other and the rest of the team," Achterwinter said on the eight-member senior class' upcoming final appearance in Farmville. "It's hard to believe for us that it will be the last time playing in Farmville, but it's reassuring that Sunday is not by any means our last time playing together."

Game time against the Cardinals is set for 12 p.m. from Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field as the contest will be broadcasted live and free of charge on the Big South Network.

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