SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Longwood lacrosse lost a heartbreaker at Wofford on Wednesday afternoon. The potent trio of Sophia Passa, Riley McDonald and Lauren Cerretani combined for 15 goals and four assists for the Lancers (3-7, 1-2 Big South), but the Terriers (5-6, 2-1 Big South) edged Longwood 18-17 in double overtime on Emma Stalteri's free position with 37 seconds to play.
 
SCORE:
 
               1Q          2Q          3Q          4Q          OT          2OT        Final
LWU      6             5             4             2             0             0             17
WOF      6             3             4             4             0             1             18
 
Top Longwood Performers:
Sophia Passa: 6G, 1A | Riley McDonald: 4G, 3A | Lauren Cerretani: 5G, 9DC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
In a breathtaking first half, neither side led by more than two goals as the two teams traded blows for the opening 30 minutes.
 
Goals were scored in bunches in a frenetic first quarter. McDonald tallied a hat trick for the Lancers in the opening 15 minutes, and Passa added two more.
 
The Lancers struck twice in the final 90 seconds to erase Wofford's two-goal lead and tie the score at six.
 
Wofford scored the first two goals in the second period before Longwood's defense put on the clamps over the final 10 minutes of the half.
 
The Lancers held the Terriers to one goal, and the Longwood offense ripped off five goals of its own to take an 11-9 lead at the break. After Cerretani had tied the game at 9-9, Passa ripped home back-to-back goals off feeds from McDonald to give Longwood the two-goal lead.
 
The Lancers extended the lead through the third period and early into the fourth, as Cerretani scored two of her five goals. She gave Longwood a 16-13 lead with 13:06 remaining, and Passa added one more with 12:05 to play for Longwood's largest lead of the contest.
 
However, Wofford hit a hot streak and tied it up as Carley Irvin and Leah Hurley had two goals apiece to make it 17 all.
 
In the first overtime, both goalkeepers stood tall and made critical stops to head to a second overtime frame. Amelia Carlile totaled 12 saves for the Lancers.
 
Passa ripped a good look off the post on Longwood's first possession of double overtime, and Wofford's Emma Stalteri wiggled free to earn a free position with 37 seconds left in the extra time. She slotted it home to give Wofford the walk-off win.

WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"We had a great first half and learned a lot about what we are capable of as a team," said Longwood Head Coach Kylar Ferguson. "We had one too many mental errors in the second half, but we have some good tape to go back to and use for Saturday."
 
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
 
Passa, the reigning Big South Freshman of the Week, had a career high six goals. She scored four goals in the first half and two after halftime.
 
Passa set a career best with seven points (six goals, one assist) in the effort. It marked her third straight game with at least five points.
 
Cerretani finished with a season-best five goals. It was her fifth multi-goal effort this season.
 
Cerretani set a career high with nine draw controls. She now has 109 in her Lancer career.
 
McDonald set a career high with three assists, and she tied a season high with seven points.
 
McDonald had her sixth multi-goal game for the Lancers.
 
Carlile posted 12 saves, three shy of her season high.
 
It was the third time Carlile has had at least 10 saves this season.
 
UP NEXT:
 
Longwood heads home to host preseason favorite Mercer on Saturday. Opening draw is set for noon, and the game will be aired on ESPN+.
 
#GoWood #HorsePower