LORETTO, Pa. – Trailing 8-0 just 12 minutes into the game, Longwood reversed course and put together its most dominant stretch of the season only to fall in the closing minutes, 10-9 to Saint Francis Wednesday afternoon at DeGol Field.
 
The Lancers (2-5) nearly pulled out what would have been the biggest comeback of head coach Elaine Jones' seven-year tenure, but Saint Francis overcame a 46 dominant minutes from Longwood to net two goals in the final 2:09 – including a game-winner from Amanda Heidt with 23 seconds to play.
 
"I admire our team's tenacity and grit in working their way back from a huge deficit to eventually tie the game," Jones said.
 
"It was remarkable to see because they didn't give up all over the field. Behind Kaitlin [Luccarelli]'s five ground balls and five caused turnovers, we definitely generated momentum and gave ourselves the opportunity to win. Laura [O'Toole] was terrific in goal as our defense held for the majority of the second half. Unfortunately, two lapses allowed Saint Francis the breaks they needed, and they capitalized."
 
After giving up eight goals on just 10 shots in the first 12 minutes of the game, the Lancers responded with 46 dominant minutes in which they put together an 8-0 run of their own and outshot the Red Flash 21-12. Sophomore captain Emma Johnson tied the game at 8-8 at the end of that run, corralling a pass from classmate Taylor Blenckstone and throwing it in for her lone goal and Blenckstone's fifth assist of the game.
 
However, Johnson's equalizer reignited the Red Flash (2-4), who came out on top after a back-and-forth final two minutes. Peyton LeConte answered Johnson's goal with a go-ahead strike with 2:09 to play, but Luccarelli responded with another equalizer to tie the score at 9-9 with 1:11 on the clock.
 
The next draw, however, went to Saint Francis, which parlayed the possession into a game-winning goal by Amanda Heidt, who drew a foul in the arc and netted a free position shot with 23 seconds to play.
 
"Not getting off to a good start hurt us thoughout the game," Luccarelli said. "Our defense held them up, but our attack had many missed opportunities. Although our team came together to fight back in the second half, unfortunately it wasn't enough to get the win."
 
Luccarelli's last goal was her fourth of the game and team-leading 21st of the season. She finished with five ground balls, five caused turnovers and two draw controls. Her classmate Dana Joss added three goals, an assist, two draws, two ground balls and three caused turnovers of her own.
 
However, it was Longwood's defense that sparked that first-half turnaround, as the Lancers shut out Saint Francis from the 18-minute mark in the first half until LeConte's go-ahead goal with 2:09 left in the game. Toole was the catalyst to the defensive stronghold, entering the game after the Red Flash's eighth goal and stopping the next 12 shots she faced.
 
"We faced an aggressive offense in the beginning and went up against some really tough shots," said O'Toole, whose appearance was her first since starting the season opener against Duquesne.
 
"Our defense was able to regroup and settle into a rhythm, which made my job easy and allowed our offense to chip away at Saint Francis' lead. I'm very proud of how our team stuck together, and I wish I could have saved that last free position shot."
 
Longwood will now continue its stretch of three straight road games, next traveling to Old Dominion for a 1 p.m. game this Sunday, March 17. The Lancers then head to Mount St. Mary's the following Wednesday before returning home to host East Carolina on March 23 at Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field.
 
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