The Longwood University women’s lacrosse team dropped a non-conference match 12-9 at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia Tuesday afternoon. The Lancers were paced by senior Amanda Bereznay|Gwynn Oak, Md. (Seton Keough) who tallied a team-high three goals and one assist off five shots. Longwood (8-6, 4-2 NLC) returns home to the Athletics Complex in Farmville Saturday, April 16, at 12 p.m., hosting Navy.
Tech led at the half 6-3 sparked by three goals from Ryan Rotanz, scoring the hat trick on the first three goals for the home team. Senior Cara O’Brien|Arlington (Bishop O’Connell) scored first for the Lancers, tying the game at 1-1 with 19:17 remaining before Tech pulled away to a 4-1 lead at 10:05 left in the first period off three unanswered tallies. Bereznay closed the gap, scoring Longwood’s second goal at 7:05. Tech responded again with three more scores, while LU added one last goal – via O’Brien at 6:06 – to close the period. O’Brien continues to lead the team in scoring (41g, 9a) after a two-goal game with one assist.
“We played as well as we’ve played all season,” said head coach Missy Ackerman. “We had an incredible performance by Cara O’Brien who really was the heart and soul of keeping us in the game. Had we played this way in the two preceding games we’d be leading the conference.”
Freshman Mary Barondess|Centreville (Westfield) scored her 15th goal of the season to open the second half at 27:16, which put the Lancers down just two goals 6-4. She finished with two goals, two ground balls and a game-high four draw controls. The Hokies responded with two quick conversions separated by just 1:11, giving them an 8-4 advantage. On a free position shot, junior Jessica Rudloff|West Chester, Pa. (West Chester East) pulled the Lancers back within three (8-5) less than two minutes later. The Lancers got as close as 9-7 – both goals coming from Bereznay – before Tech responded with three in a row, giving them a 12-7 edge. Longwood would score two more to end the half but couldn’t overcome the margin despite successfully clearing the ball all 13 times, and strong defensive efforts.
“We were able to move the ball in transition,” Ackerman said. “Our defense kept us there, and Juli (Liebig) was very dynamic in the cage. We just came up short a couple of times but we were able to limit them from going on any kind of a bigger run that’s given us trouble in the last couple games.”
Senior Juli Liebig|Centreville, Md. (Queen Anne’s) protected the goal for the game’s entirety, making seven saves, while Tech keeper Alex Gale kept the Lancers out of the net 12 times. Six Hokies scored in the win, led by Rotanz with four, while five Lancers tallied goals, including senior Duan Wright|Church Hill(Queen Anne’s) with one.
LU did have the edge in draw controls 15-9 but were outshot 31-28 despite winning that battle in the second half 16-13. Both teams converted two free position shots.
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