DELAND, Fla. – Make it five straight wins for Longwood women's lacrosse.
 
Thursday afternoon, the Lancers (7-6) overcame a three-hour weather delay, and a five-goal deficit, to rally past Stetson 18-15.
 
Julia Koenig helmed a defense that held Stetson to two goals in a 25-minute stretch of the second half while Cybella Smith racked up 13 saves in goal.
 
Meanwhile, Holly Hill and Riley McDonald powered an offense that saw eight players score. The duo muscled home 11 goals, with Hill scoring a career best five as McDonald equaled her own career high with six.
 
Top LWU Performers:
Holly Hill: 5G, 3A
Riley McDonald: 6G, 2A, 1DC
Claire Libby: 1G, 2A, 4DC, 2CT
Julia Koenig: 3GB, 8DC, 3CT
Cybella Smith: 13 SV, .591 SV%, 6GA
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Stetson (4-8) jumped out to an early two goal lead in the first quarter, but the Lancers equalized thanks to McDonald and Hill. Hill had the goal of the match with one second left in the quarter, flipping the ball over her head for a goal that evened the score 3-3.
 
The start of the second quarter was all Stetson, as the Hatters scored five straight goals.
 
Then, Mother Nature got involved. Following a three hour stoppage for weather, McDonald and Hill promptly got Longwood right back into the game with back-to-back goals.
 
Claire Libby cut the gap to two, and Stetson led 9-6 at the break.
 
After halftime, Longwood's defense, and Smith in goal, took over. Smith made 12 saves in the second half, and Koenig helped the Lancer defense surrender one goal in the third quarter and one goal in the first 10 minutes of the fourth.
 
Meanwhile, the Lancer offense took off. McDonald rifled in three of her goals in the third quarter, including back-to-back strikes while a man up to knot the score at 10.
 
Hill then gave Longwood the lead 42 seconds into the fourth quarter. She came from behind the goal and snuck it downstairs for her first of three fourth quarter goals to make it 11-10.
 
Hill's strike was part of a five-goal Longwood run to start the fourth quarter, and four separate players scored.
 
Stetson then scored, but Longwood answered with back-to-back goals for a 17-11 lead.
 
From that point on, the Lancers whittled away the clock. While Stetson scored four goals in the final two minutes, the Lancers were able to salt away the clock and preserve the win.
 
WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"We played as a team today and battled back from behind and a long weather delay," said Longwood Head Coach Kylar Ferguson. "Seeing an awesome offensive spread with late saves in a come-from-behind win is exactly the kind of team we want to be heading into the latter half of conference play. What a game! I'm very proud of the team. Excited for Saturday. Go Wood!"
 
NOTABLES:
 
Mikaela Cook scored the first goal of the game for Longwood.
 
Jordan Fitzgerald scored the final goal of the contest. It was her first collegiate goal.
 
McDonald leads Longwood with 42 goals this season.
 
McDonald has had eight points in a game in three straight games.
 
Hill tallied eight points, a career high.
 
Smith earned her second career with a career high 13 saves.
 
UP NEXT:
 
Longwood dives back into Big South play with a trip to Mercer on Saturday. Opening draw is set for 11 a.m.
 
#GoWood #HorsePower