WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Longwood lacrosse, as they have all season, refused to go away on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately for the Lancers (2-5), a rally came up just short in a 13-12 loss to William & Mary.
 
Riley McDonald led the team with five goals, and she has now scored 18 goals in her past four games. However, William & Mary countered with four players posting multi-goal efforts.
 
TOP LWU PERFORMERS:
 
Riley McDonald: 5G
Ariana Tucci: 3G
Cybella Smith: 7 SV, 7GA, .500 SV%
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
William & Mary (4-5) jumped out to an early 7-2 lead through the first quarter as five different players scored. Finley Hoffman capped the scoring with 22 seconds to play in the period to give her team a 7-2 lead.
 
Longwood answered, as they have all season. McDonald keyed the Lancers in the second quarter with a pair of goals, and Emily Cate Smith added one goal and one assist.
 
McDonald cut the lead to 8-6 at the half off a feed from Holly Hill heading into the half.
 
Ariana Tucci came alive after halftime for the Lancers, scoring a hat trick in the final 30 minutes to tie a career high in goals.
 
Her goal with 6:24 to go in the third quarter evened the score at nine all, but William & Mary scored four straight to run the lead back to four.
 
However, Longwood responded with goals by Sophia Passa, Tucci and McDonald to cut the lead to one with 3:09 to play. William & Mary managed to fend off Longwood in the final three minutes.
 
Cybella Smith came on in goal and made seven saves for Longwood in 51 minutes of action to help Longwood claw back into the game.
 
UP NEXT:
 
Longwood stays on the road with a trip to Virginia Tech on Wednesday, March 20. Opening draw is set for 4 p.m. in Blacksburg.
 
#GoWood #HorsePower