TOWSON, Md. - Senior captain Lil-Sophie Achterwinter fired a rocket into the backboard in the 44th-minute as the Longwood field hockey team flexed their muscles in a 1-0 shutout of Towson Sunday afternoon.

Longwood (2-0) dominated almost every statistical category thanks to opportune possessions before breaking the scoreless tie in the second half.

"It was a pretty tough game, but we played pretty well – moved the ball around well, stuck to the game plan," said 10th-year head coach Iain Byers, who has the Lancers off to their second 2-0 start in as many seasons. "It's a tough place to go, so we're happy with the win."

Achterwinter, who Byers has used throughout her career on penalty corner situations, displayed her coach's trust with the penalty conversion and her first goal of the season. A native of Dusseldorf, Germany, Achterwinter took the entry pass from sophomore Briana Greene and fired it past senior goalkeeper Emilee Woodall for the game's lone score.

Greene's assist gives her the team lead with three points – one goal and one assist – in just two games this season. Achterwinter's first career game-winner made her the third different Lancer to find the net in 2017, joining Greene and Leonie Verstraete.

Sunday's win completes a season-opening weekend in which the Lancers picked up two wins and held their opponents, Villanova and Towson, to just one goal on nine shots. Longwood also picked up their second shutout win over the Tigers in as many seasons following a 2-0 win in Farmville last year, as well as extending their lead in the all-time series to 7-5-1 overall and 5-2 in the Division I era.

Senior goalkeeper Emilee Woodall stood tall in net all day allowing just one goal on 15 Lancer shots on goal, but took the loss as the Lancer defense shut down virtually every chance the Tigers created on the other end. 

Longwood's Katie Wyman didn't have much action around the net as she faced just two shots from the Tigers, picking up one save and earning the win in her third career shutout.

The Lancers outshot the Tigers 18-2 and had 14 penalty corners against Towson's four, while also putting 15 shots on goal. Longwood also spent 20-plus minutes with a man-up advantage with Towson receiving three yellow cards and two green cards.

Leading the offensive onslaught Sunday was Verstraete, who fired off 11 shots, nine on goal, with Olivia Wawrzyniak adding three shots, all on goal and Achterwinter sending two shots on goal.

Longwood returns home for a matchup with Commonwealth rival VCU in a Friday night showdown from Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field, entering as winners of five of their previous six outings.

"Now we have to get ready for this next weekend, which will be just as challenging as this one," Byers said. "We're happy with how it went, and hard work during the week will put us in good shape."

Friday's contest will also be the first of three scheduled field hockey broadcasts on the Big South Network this fall as Darius Thigpen, the voice of the Lancers, and Longwood sophomore T.J. Wengert will be on the call. Game time between the Lancers and Rams is set for 6 p.m.

#GoWood