BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Longwood lacrosse and Gardner-Webb were locked in a back-and-forth white-knuckle affair on Saturday afternoon. Ultimately, Gardner-Webb pulled out the win on their senior day, 15-11.
 
Neither side led by more than two for the first 46 minutes of the contest. Every time one side would score, the other team clawed back and answered.
 
Haley Moomau was right in the thick of it almost every time Longwood (5-11, 2-6 Big South) battled back, as the senior tied a career best with five goals to lead the Lancer attack. Riley McDonald chipped in with three goals.
 
Nicole Fordyce and Emily Cate Smith provided the setup for Longwood, with the two each posting four assists. In goal, Amelia Carlile had 10 saves against a Gardner-Webb attack that generated 38 shots.

The Lancers also controlled the draw effectively, outdrawing Gardner-Webb 18-12, and the defense forced multiple shot clock violations.
 
However, the Gardner-Webb (10-7, 5-3 Big South) duo of Lauren Deaver and Bria Foley countered Moomau by combining for seven goals. Deaver added two assists, while Aimie Perino had two goals and two assists as well. The Runnin' Bulldogs were also able to capitalize on 22 Longwood turnovers.

"Although we didn't get the win today, we really gave them a battle," said Longwood head coach Elaine Jones. "It was Gardner-Webb's Senior Day, so we knew they would be pretty fired up."
 
The two sides traded the lead back and forth like a hot potato through the first half. Deaver created some separation for Gardner-Webb, but McDonald and Miranda Helfenbein each scored less than a minute apart to even the score at five with less than five minutes to go in the first half.
 
Jada Preston gave Gardner-Webb a 6-5 lead at the break, but Moomau tied it right back up just 20 seconds into the second half off a feed from Smith.
 
With the Lancers down 7-6, McDonald and Moomau both scored to give the Lancers an 8-7 lead. But it wouldn't last as Foley tallied her 24^th goal of the season.
 
That goal started a decisive run that saw Gardner-Webb score five straight from five different sticks, and it gave the Runnin' Bulddogs their largest lead to that point in the game at 12-8.
 
"With multiple ties, we were neck and ned through almost three quarters before just giving them the slight door opening at the end of the third quarter," Jones said. "Unfortunately, that small lapse allowed them to gain control of the game and ultimately pull out the win.

"That being said, I am proud of our team's hustle and fight, especially our defense, who executed a new game plan that we didn't really have enough time to polish. I'm also pleased we won the draw control battle."

The Lancers refused to quit, and Moomau scored twice more in the fourth quarter. Gardner-Webb limited Longwood to one Fordyce goal in the final 10 minutes though to preserve the win.
 
"We just need to work on finishing our shots better and cutting down on our turnovers," Jones added. "While it's unfortunate to lose, we still have one game left, so we'll prepare for that and be ready to go on Wednesday."

Longwood heads back home to host Winthrop on Wednesday, April 27 in their final contest of the regular season. The first draw is set for 3 p.m. at Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field, and the game will be aired on ESPN+.
 
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