BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – A back and forth game went against Longwood lacrosse on Saturday afternoon in the team's conference opener.
 
Gardner-Webb used a late run to take down the Lancers (0-8, 0-1 Big South) 14-12 in a game that was neck and neck throughout.
 
Emma Duchscherer scored two of her four goals in the final three minutes to lead the Runnin' Bulldogs (1-9, 1-1 Big South) after the Lancers took a lead in the fourth.
 
Madison Rogers had a hat trick to lead Longwood, and Bailey Stratton and Mikaela Cook had two goals apiece.
 
SCORING:
               1             2             3             4             FINAL
LWU      3             3             3             3             12
GWU     5             3             2             4             14
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Stratton gave Longwood the early lead with the game's opening goal, and she had the first two of the contest for Longwood. Jordan Fitzgerald gave the Lancers a 3-1 lead with 6:13 to go in the opening quarter.
 
However, GWU scored four straight to close the quarter, with Jules Brown bagging a brace in that stretch for a 5-3 lead.
 
Longwood equalized in the second quarter on a goal each from Rogers and Kendra DeFilippo, but GWU answered. The two sides traded goals again before the half, giving Gardner-Webb an 8-6 lead at the break.
 
Longwood again tied it up on goals from Ellie Rumbaugh and Cook, but GWU ended the run there and took a 10-9 lead in the fourth.
 
The Lancers scored three straight in the middle of the period with Rogers, Miranda Helfenbein and Alexandra Hirst all scoring to take a 12-11 lead with 6:07 to play.
 
However, Duchscherer tied it up a few minutes later, and Katie Westbrook put home the game-winning goal 23 seconds later. Duchscherer added some insurance with 1:44 to go.
 
WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"This was a tough one. It was a typical Big South game, exactly what we expected" said Longwood Head Coach Dwayne Hicks. "We just didn't execute when we needed to. There were some moments of incredible brilliance during the game, great skill work, and high level plays. So we are getting there, but it takes time."
 
UP NEXT:
 
Longwood returns home to host two straight games at Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field. First, the Lancers will take on High Point on Wednesday, April 2 at 4 p.m. They will then host Wofford on Saturday, April 5 at 1 p.m.
 
#GoWood #HorsePower