GREENVILLE, S.C. – Jordan Fitzgerald had a hat trick, and Alexandra Hirst added two goals and three assists for Longwood lacrosse. However, a big third quarter powered Furman past the Lancers on Saturday afternoon.
 
Sofija Buzelis led Furman (9-3, 3-1 Big South) with seven goals, and Anna Roser added six more to key the Paladins past the Lancers (1-11, 1-4 Big South) 23-10.
 
SCORE
               1             2             3             4             FINAL
LWU      4             6             2             1             10
FUR        6             4             8             5             23
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Furman jumped out to an early four-goal lead behind two goals from Buzelis and one from Roser, but Longwood had a strong response in the first quarter.
 
Kendra DeFilippo put the Lancers on the board off a feed from Hirst, and Fitzgerald punched home back-to-back goals to cut the lead to 5-3. DeFilippo added one more to trim the lead to 5-4.
 
Furman scored four straight to push the lead back to 9-4, with Buzelis driving home two of those, but again, Longwood responded.
 
Mikaela Cook scored twice, and Bailey Stratton cut the lead to 10-7 with a goal in the final minute of the first half.
 
However, that was as close as Longwood would get. Furman scored four straight to start the second half, with Buzelis scoring a pair of those. While Hirst had two goals in the third, the Paladins were able to pull away.
 
WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"This was a tough game," said Longwood Head Coach Dwayne Hicks. "Furman is a tough team, and we played with a lot of pride to keep up with them in the first half. With more experience, we'll figure out how to be better in the second half and finish games."
 
UP NEXT:
 
Longwood hosts Presbyterian on Saturday, April 19 at noon at Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field. It is Senior Day, and the game will air on ESPN+.
 
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