BLACKSBURG, Va. – No. 15 ranked Virginia Tech was sharp in their home opener, powering past Longwood women's lacrosse 18-3 on Wednesday afternoon.
After moving up two spots in the Inside Lacrosse Poll this week, the Hokies (2-1) got goals from eight different players to lead them to their second win of the season. Freshman Whitney Liebler led the charge for Virginia Tech, tallying her first-five collegiate goals on seven shots in the win.
Paige Petty, a member of the preseason all-ACC team and the 2020 VaSID Player of the Year, tallied three goals and secured three draw controls, as she overtook the team lead in goals scored from Sarah Lubnow with seven in three contests. Reilly Reed and Grace New both added two goals for Virginia Tech, whose lone loss this season came against No. 12 Duke, 12-8.
For the Lancers,
Emma Johnson and
Haley Moomau both scored for the second consecutive game. Johnson, Longwood's leading returning scorer with 23 goals in 2020, leads the team with five goals through two games this season. Moomau led Longwood (0-2) on Wednesday afternoon with two goals, while
Taylor Blenckstone recorded two assists for the second-consecutive contest.
"Playing Virginia Tech was a great learning and confidence building experience for our second game, and I love that we were able to fit it into our schedule at the last minute," said Longwood head coach
Elaine Jones. "Our freshmen haven't been exposed to the high level pressure Virginia Tech applied so it was good for them, as well as our whole team, to see that."
Moomau and Johnson became just the 14
th and 15
th players to score against the stout Virginia Tech defense, as the Hokies entered the game ranked 13
th nationally in goals allowed, conceding just 8.5 per game. Virginia Tech also ranks in the top-10 nationally in clearing percentage, a feat they continued by going 12-of-12 in the win over the Lancers.
In goal,
Kylee Wright made 16 saves for Longwood, her second consecutive game with at least 14 saves. The Lancers scooped 18 total ground balls, led by
Ainsley Rowlison and
Hannah Tirrell who each secured three—the pair also each forced two turnovers.
"I really credit our players with being willing and excited to step up and play Virginia Tech on only two days notice and practice," added Jones.
Longwood will play their third consecutive Commonwealth neighbor on Saturday, Feb. 27 when they head to Norfolk, Va. for a matchup with Old Dominion. The opening draw is scheduled for 12 p.m.
#GoWood
