With 15 seconds left in their match against the Virginia field hockey team, the Longwood Lancers made a frantic last attempt to score.As time ran out, Longwood hit the ball out of bounds, preserving an 8-0 shutout for Cavaliers.
The win marked the end of a three-game losing streak for the field hockey team.The Cavaliers feasted on the Lancers, who entered the game with a 3-9 record and two consecutive losses.The 8-0 score marked Virginia's largest margin of victory this season, and tied the season mark for most points in a game. It was also the first shutout posted by the Cavaliers since a 3-0 win over Appalachian St. on Aug. 29.
Virginia dominated the contest from the start.Junior midfielder Katie Phillips gave the team a 1-0 lead with 24:47 left in the first half.Senior Katie Jo Gerfen gave the team its second goal less than two minutes later.The ball rarely left Longwood's side of the field, and in the first half alone, five different players scored for the Cavaliers.
"I thought we got great contributions from a lot of different people tonight," Virginia coach Jessica Wilk said. "It was really a team effort, both from our starters and from some of our key reserves."
Virginia went into halftime with a 6-0 lead.
Leading the offensive attack for Virginia was sophomore midfielder Mia Link, who scored three goals for her second hat trick of the season.One of her goals came on a strong shot that passed over the heads of several players on its way to the net.Link also contributed two assists onpasses to fellow midfielder Phillips for her two goals.Link mentioned the Cavaliers' offensive mentality as one of the reasons for their success against the Lancers.
"Sometimes we fall into playing defensively," she said."But obviously we kept attacking today."
The Virginia defense put on a strong performance as well.Senior back Julianne Bojanic halted several attempted Longwood drives.On one particular play, Longwood sophomore Katie Murphy sprinted down the field with the ball and appeared to have a good chance at scoring.Bojanic caught up with Murphy and swatted the ball away from her and back down to the Longwood side of the field.Sophomore Erin Hayes also made a number of good defensive plays.
Two goalkeepers continued to see action for the Cavaliers.Senior Logan Carr started the game for Virginia.Junior Katherine Blair took over in goal at halftime.Neither goalkeeper faced much action, as Longwood managed to get off just two shots.
"They've been splitting time, sometimes it's an entire game, sometimes it's a half," Wilk said of Carr and Blair."It's important they're both in there and communicating and directing."
Wilk praised her players for their overall effort.
"I'm really pleased with the performance," she said."I thought they did a very good job sticking to the game plan and staying disciplined for the entire 70 minutes"
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