FARMVILLE, Va. –Longwood lacrosse fell 16-8 to William & Mary on Saturday afternoon at Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field in a defensive struggle that was tighter than the final margin.
 
Ellie Rumbaugh and Madison Rogers led Longwood (0-5) with two goals apiece, and Cybella Smith made 11 saves in goal, but a late flurry by William & Mary (4-3) proved to be the difference.
 
Anna Dawson had a first half hat trick for the visitors, and Kate Draddy added four goals and an assist.
 
SCORE:
               1             2             3             4             FINAL
W&M    3             3             4             6             16
LWU      0             3             3             2             8
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Both defenses kept things nip and tuck in the first quarter, preventing each offense from getting into a rhythm.
 
Cybella Smith started well for Longwood in goal, making five saves in that first quarter, and the two teams combined for 11 turnovers as the defenses presented stiff tests.
 
However, the Tribe broke through thanks to Dawson, who scored two of the team's three goals in the final five minutes of the quarter.
 
The youthful Lancers had a good response in the second quarter after William & Mary made it 4-0. Jordan Fitzgerald, Ellie Rumbaugh and Madison Rogers all banged home goas in a three minute stretch to cut the lead to one.
 
Both sides again reverted to defense down the stretch of the half before Dawson punched one home for her third of the game, and W&M added one more for a 6-3 lead at the break.
 
The lead grew to five, but Alexandra Hirst had the answer for Longwood with 8:26 left in the third that stemmed the tide momentarily. Rumbaugh added her second goal of the game a few minutes later, but that was as close as Longwood would get.

WHAT THEY SAID:

"We competed but just made too many mistakes and unforced errors," said Longwood Head Coach Dwayne Hicks. "We're finding some nuggets of succes, which I'm happy to see. Our team is growing and getting better. It's a work in progress."

"Congrats to Cybella Smith on her 100th save. She is making a big impact on our defense," Hicks added.
 
UP NEXT:
 
Longwood returns to the field with a trip to Towson on Tuesday, March 18. Opening draw is set for 4 p.m., and the game will air on FloCollege.
 
#GoWood #HorsePower