FARMVILLE, VA. – The Longwood Lancers field hockey team battled all the way to end in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Kent State Golden Flashes. Longwood overcame a two-goal fourth quarter deficit to send the game to extra time on Senior Night. The match was Longwood's second shootout of the season, with the other being a 2-1 victory over the Miami Redhawks.

 
Goals (Assists)
 
11' Kent State: Katie Wuerstle
36' Kent State: Maria Cambra Soler (Iris Bekker, Danielle Hamm)
49' Longwood: Sophia Loscher (Madison Wiley)
55' Longwood: Maroussia Walckiers
 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Offense would be hard to come by in the first half for both teams, as only six total shots were taken. Kent State (7-7) struck first off the stick of Katie Wuerstle in the 11^th minute to give the Golden Flashes an early lead. Longwood (3-12) was able to muster only one shot through two quarters, and the match would remain 1-0 in favor of Kent State going into the half.
 
The match looked to be firmly in the control of the Golden Flashes following the third quarter, as Longwood was out-shot seven to two in the frame. Kent State's Maria Cambra Soler extended her team's lead to two goals on a score following a penalty corner. Facing a two-goal deficit heading into the fourth quarter, the future was looking bleak for the Lancers.

Despite having only three shot attempts to this point, the Longwood offense came alive in the final frame of regulation. Sophia Loscher got things started for the Lancers, knocking one to the back of the net off of a Madison Wiley assist to cut Kent State's lead in half. With time running low and the Lancers down one, Maroussia Walckiers gave Longwood the shot it needed, finding the back of the net with only five minutes remaining to tie the match 2-2. Neither side was able to break the tie, and to extra time we went.

Kent State was determined to end the match in overtime, tallying a total of 12 shots between two overtime periods. However, Longwood goalkeeper Lara Van Nunen had other plans. The sophomore 'tender was sensational in extra time, making eight saves in 20 minutes of overtime play. Although the Lancers were unable to score in the overtime periods, Van Nunen's goalkeeping helped send the match to a sudden-victory shootout. After trading several goals in the shootout, Kent State's third tally would be the game-winner, and the Golden Flashes went on to win 3-2.


WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"Lara came out strong in the second half and made some very strong multi-shot saves," said head coach Miranda Rigg on her goalkeeper's performance.

"It was awesome to see us play team hockey and come back strong with two great goals," Rigg said of the team's late comeback. "Helped us go into the shootout and have a chance to win."

"We have had moments of greatness throughout the season," Rigg said of the team's growth throughout the year. "When we play our game as a team, that really shines through."
 

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
 
Tonight's match marks the 12^th all-time matchup between the Lancers and Golden Flashes, with Kent State leading the series 9-3.

Tonight's match marks the second shootout the Lancers have played in this season, defeating Miami (OH) 2-1 on October 7.
 
Longwood registered nine shots (six on goal) to Lehigh's 26 (17 on goal).
 
For Sophia Loscher, her score marked her third goal on the season.

For Maroussia Walckiers, she tallied her fourth goal of the year.
 
Lara Van Nunen had a season-high 15 saves in the match, putting her season total at 75.
 
Six Longwood players recorded a shot in the match, four of which had an attempt on goal.
 


UP NEXT:
 
The Lancers will be on the road Sunday, October 23 to take on Georgetown University. First touch is scheduled for 1 p.m in Washington, DC.

#HorsePower