CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Longwood field hockey may have started slow against Queens University to open the season, but the Lancers closed on a tear. The team scored three unanswered goals to down the Royals 3-1 to open the 2022 campaign.
 
Goals (Assists)
 
2' – Queens: Enya Kemp (Ava Moser)
8' – Longwood: Maroussia Walckiers
48' – Longwood: Madison Wiley
59' – Longwood: Caroline Hampton (Isis Vrolijks)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Enya Kemp gave Queens (0-1) the early lead on a transition goal, but the Lancers (1-0) bounced back with an answering goal of their own in the first quarter.
 
Maroussia Walckiers provided the game tying goal after Longwood shrugged off the early pressure. The 2021 MAC Freshman of the Year smacked home a bouncing ball in the eighth minute.
 
From that point on, Longwood started to dominate. The Lancers tilted the field and controlled the possession to the tune of 32 shots (13 on goal) and 18 penalty corners.
 
The sustained pressure paid off in the fourth quarter. Madison Wiley took a rebound off a penalty corner and sliced a backhanded shot home for a 2-1 lead and her first collegiate goal. With the game winding down, Caroline Hampton deflected a nifty pass from Isis Vrolijks into the back of the cage to seal the game.
 
WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"A lot of learning and growth happened during the game," said first year Longwood head coach Miranda Rigg. "I was proud of the way we came out in the second half and settled in to playing our game. It was great to get a first win under our belt, especially on an away trip."
 
"It's never ideal going down early in the match, but you have to let it go and focus on playing your game," Rigg said about responding to an early 1-0 deficit. "We went back to fight, got a goal in, and from there it's back to an even match."
 
"We had a lot of attacking opportunities and controlled the ball up the field," Rigg said about where her team had success. "We can still grow in our finishing all over the field, whether that's on attacking penalty corners, defending penalty corners or circle play. We have to finish the opportunities when they come."
 
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
 
The win was Rigg's first of her fledgling collegiate head coaching career.
 
Madison Wiley's goal, which served as the game winner, was her first collegiate goal.
 
Caroline Hampton scored her second career goal. The senior scored her first collegiate goal in 2021 against Bellarmine.
 
Maroussia Walckiers tallied the opening goal of the 2022 season for Longwood after scoring four goals a season ago.
 
The 32 shots were the most for a Longwood squad since the 2011 squad fired off 33 shots against Saint Louis on Oct. 6.
 
Lara Van Nunen earned the win in goal for Longwood in her first collegiate action.
 
UP NEXT:
 
Longwood returns to Farmville for the team's home opener on Sunday against Richmond. The match is scheduled to start at noon, and it will be aired on ESPN+.
 
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