Longwood Adjusts, Defeats St. Francis (Pa.)
from press release
FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University
women's lacrosse team beat visiting Northeast Conference (NEC)
member Saint Francis University Thursday afternoon 10-5 at the
Athletics Complex in Farmville. Junior Jessica Rudloff|West
Chester, Pa. (West Chester East) led the Lancers (2-0) with four
goals, also adding one assist for a game-high five points. The Red
Flash (0-3) were led by Kate Simmons with two goals. LU finishes
its three-game homestand on Tuesday, March 8 at 4 p.m., hosting
another NEC foe in Mount St. Mary's at the Athletics Complex in
Farmville.
SFU opened scoring in the game at 20:36 from a free position goal
by Sheri Fort, which would be the Red Flash's only lead of the
game. Rudloff answered 35 seconds later, also on a free position
goal. Longwood then tallied three more goals leading into halftime
off sophomore Jamie Brentlinger|Gambrills, Md. (Arundel) at 18:40,
freshman Mary Barondess|Centreville (Westfield) at 11:25 and junior
Hannah Riggs|Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie) with 1:53
remaining. Barondess's goal was the first of her career, which she
tallied unassisted.
“Saint Francis definitely surprised us a little bit,”
said head coach Missy Ackerman. “Their transition game was
better, but I think we made adjustments at the half and were able
to work a lot of different scenarios with different
personnel.”
Simmons scored again for SFU off a quick goal to start the second
half with just 25 ticks gone, pulling the Red Flash within two
goals before the Lancers ran away with four more goals, having the
edge at 8-2. Senior Cara O'Brien|Arlington (Bishop O'Connell)
started the run at 28:31 off a pass from Rudloff before the junior
scored three in a row in a matter of seven minutes, the first two
coming merely 40 seconds apart.
SFU was able to tally three more goals, but Longwood score two more
of its own from senior Duan Wright|Church Hill, Md. (Queen Anne's)
and Brentlinger to close out the game.
Senior Juli Liebig|Centreville, Md. (Queen Anne's) grabbed a
game-high five ground balls while earning her second win of the
season in goal, making four saves. Danielle Pokusa made 15 saves
for SFU.
“We had to make adjustments on their goalie,” said
Ackerman. “I think she did a good job for them.”
LU had the edge in shots 33-17 as well as ground balls 20-9. The
Lancers also made just eight turnovers to the Red Flash's 18.
“Our defense played solidly, and that's what we were hoping
for.”
