FARMVILLE, Va. – Sam Fischer scored twice and Longwood women's soccer followed her lead on Wednesday night against VMI.

Four different players scored as Longwood (3-0) erupted for five goals in a 5-3 win.

Peyton Curney, Madison Fitzpatrick and Karleigh Minson joined Fischer on the score sheet as Longwood scored five goals for the first time since 2021.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Longwood tested VMI (0-3) goalkeeper Maren Ryberg and made her make two saves early.

Fischer ignited the goal scoring in the 23^rd minute of the game off a pass from Sarah Olson, battling three defenders before putting it home for her third goal of the season.

In the 30th minute, Curney broke through with her first goal of the season. She slipped past the defense and polished off a pass from Fischer for a 2-0 lead.  

Less than five minutes later, Taylor Hoag lofted a cross to Fitzpatrick inside the box. Fitzpatrick didn't miss to make it 3-0.

Taliyah Headman scored twice in two minutes to pull VMI within 3-2.

Early in the start of the second, off a quick corner, Sydney Robertson's shot was blocked. Fischer found the rebound and banged it home for a 4-2 in the 51^st minute.

Not long after, in the 54th minute of the game, Minson found a similar opportunity off a corner kick that bounced around. She stayed composed and finished it to bring the score up 5-2.

VMI's Samantha Uschold closed the scoring with less than a minute left with an assist from Hedman and Paige Becker.

WHAT THEY SAID:
"That was a wild ride to say the least", said Head Coach Todd Dyer. "After a slow start, we finally got going, and we were up 3-0 and in complete control of the game. Then the bottom fell out, and we gave up two goals on two shots in two minutes. Again, we responded well and scored two more before giving up a late one. Bottom line, we won the game and are off to a good start this year. But we have to be better moving forward and clean up these glaring mistakes and lapses in concentration. I'm confident we can do that."

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• Longwood is the first 3-0 team in the country
• Longwood has had seven players score a goal so far this season
• Fourteen players have recorded an assist this season
• This is the first time since 2001 that the Lancers have started 3-0
• The team also started 3-0 in 1995 and 1998
• Longwood last scored five goals in 2021 against USC Upstate, Alayna Palamar and Kiersten Yuhas each scored twice in the contest, and Alex Dinger scored the other

UP NEXT:
Longwood will close out its four-game homestand against Charlotte on Sunday night at 6 p.m. This match will air on ESPN+.
 
#GoWood | #HorsePower