FARMVILLE, Va. – Sophia Passa was unstoppable, and the sophomore powered Longwood lacrosse past Winthrop 19-15 on Saturday afternoon.
 
Passa tied a career high with six goals, and Longwood (6-6, 4-0 Big South) stayed unbeaten in Big South play. It is the first time Longwood has been 4-0 in conference action since 2014.
 
Top LWU Performers:
Sophia Passa: 6G, 1GB, 3DC
Riley McDonald: 5G, 3A, 1GB, 1DC
Ariana Tucci: 4G
Holly Hill: 2G, 2A, 1GB
Julia Koenig: 5DC, 2CT
Claire Libby: 7GB, 6DC, 2CT
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Passa was dynamic, but she was part of a three-headed monster for Longwood's offense that combined for 15 goals. Passa had six, Riley McDonald added five goals to go with three assists, and Ariana Tucci tacked on four more.
 
Passa struck early as Longwood stormed out of the gates against Winthrop (1-10, 1-3 Big South). She gave the Lancers a 2-0 lead a tick more than five minutes in, and she had four goals in the first half alone.
 
However, she had plenty of help as the Lancers dominated the opening quarter.
 
Riley McDonald added a hat trick in the first 15 minutes, plus an assist, and the Lancer defense smothered Winthrop to give Longwood a 7-2 lead. For McDonald, it marked her second straight game with eight points.
 
Ariana Tucci added a goal of her own in the second quarter, but she did most of her damage in the second half.
 
The Lancers led 11-5 at the intermission after Passa's fourth goal of the half, and she notched her fifth and sixth early in the third quarter to push the lead to 13-5.
 
However, Winthrop responded. The Eagles ripped off six goals over a nine minute stretch to trim the Lancer lead to 14-11.
 
Tucci rumbled to the goal and answered for Longwood with 10 seconds left in the third, and she added two more in the fourth to help Longwood keep Winthrop at bay.
 
WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"The Lancers protected the Smurf turf like a team today," said Longwood Head Coach Kylar Ferguson. "It was the second game this year clearing the bench and getting everyone minutes. A balanced offense got us a season high 19 goals to put us 4-0 in conference and in strong contention to be the first Longwood team to make it to the Big South Tournament in five years. I'm very proud of this team. It's a good day to be a Lancer. Go Wood!"
 
UP NEXT:
 
Longwood hits the road for back-to-back road games. First, the team takes on Stetson on Thursday, April 11, and then the team dives back into Big South play with a trip to Mercer on April 13.
 
#GoWood #HorsePower