FARMVILLE, Va. – Cybella Smith was sensational in the cage for Longwood lacrosse on Saturday, but Wofford managed to edge the Lancers 12-6 anyways.
 
The sophomore goalkeeper tied the Longwood (0-10, 0-3 Big South) team record with 20 saves, but Wofford's (4-8, 1-2 Big South) defense was equally as tight.
 
Jordan Fitzgerald had half of Longwood's goals with a hat trick, her first multi-goal game of the season, and Ellie Rumbaugh added two goals in addition to Smith's heroics in cage.
 
But Wofford piled up 45 shots, and Olivia Graebner and Bria Foley fired home three goals apiece to lead the Terriers.
 
SCORE:
               1             2             3             4             FINAL
WOF      1             5             3             3             12
LWU      1             2             1             2             6
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Longwood struck first as Fitzgerald put the Lancers on the board 10 minutes in off a nice find from Alexandra Hirst, who had multiple assists on the day.
 
However, defenses were the story in the opening 15 minutes. Both sides snuffed out repeated forays from the offenses and forced 12 turnovers.
 
Foley tied the game at one apiece late in the first, and it started a six-goal run that put the visitors up 6-1 with Graebner's second goal of the game with 2:48 to go in the half.
 
Meanwhile, the Wofford defense was able to hold off the Lancer offense in that 18-minute stretch until Fitzgerald powered home her second goal of the game with 2:05 to go in the half. She added her third of the game with 49 seconds to go in the half.
 
Smith, meanwhile, was a steady presence in goal to keep Longwood hanging around. She made five saves in the second quarter and five more in the third before piling up seven in the fourth.
 
However, Wofford's defense made life tough for the Lancers, and that allowed the Terriers to slowly pull away.
 
The Lancers closed the gap late, but by then the damage was done.

WHAT THEY SAID:

"Today's game had positives and negatives," said Longwood Head Coach Dwayne Hicks. "Obviously, it was not the win we were hoping for, but that will come. Cybella tying the school record for saves in a game was an awesome positive. She had a great game. I'm very proud of her. But now we have to get more shots and put other goalies under the same pressure. When we do that, we'll get more goals and the win we're working for."
 
UP NEXT:
 
Longwood returns to action on the road on Wednesday afternoon, April 9, at Radford. Opening draw is set for 3 p.m.
 
#GoWood #HorsePower