Opening their campaign on the road Feb. 18, the Longwood University Women's Lacrosse Team lost to Navy by a final of 20-4. The Lancers would then return home to Farmville this past Friday, suffering another loss to the University of Louisville 19-8.
Returning seven starters to their lineup, Interim Head Coach Wendy Stone added 12 new bodies to the team, including nine true freshmen. Captains and seniors Hannah Riggs (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Jessica Rudloff (West Chester, Pa.) and Sam Stifler (Jarrettsville, Md.) lead the team, who finished 11-8 in their 2010 season.
Longwood University is among seven other teams in the National Lacrosse Conference, origi¬nating in 2009. Excluding Longwood, those in the conference include the University of Detroit, How¬ard University, Presbyterian College, Davidson College, High Point University, Liberty University and Jacksonville University. First year head coach Stone is assisted by Assistant Coach Taylor Frink and student-assistant Ross Garner.
On the road at Navy, the Lancers only trailed the Mids by five goals at half. Leading Longwood 8-3 to start off the second half, Navy held the Lancers to only three more shots, allowing only one more goal. While shutting down the LU offense, the Mids secured their future victory, scoring 12 more of their own, finishing the game with a decisive 20-4 victory over Stone and the Lancers. Junior goalie Mollie Zimmerman (Fairpoint, N.Y.) recorded 14 saves in the loss, while freshman Christian Acker (Moorestown, N.J.) recorded one save in the final eight minutes of the game.
Looking to avenge their season's first loss to Navy the prior weekend, the Lancers (0-1) took the field against Louisville on Friday night in Farm¬ville. Quickly jumping out to a 2-0 lead, the Lancers looked to be in control of the game early. Louisville, however, would score three quick goals leading by one within the first 20 minutes of the match. The Lancers added three more goals before halftime, while the Cardinals threw in another seven to end the first half winning 10-5.
Louisville, scoring nine goals in the second half to Longwood's three would pull out a 19-8 victory. Junior midfielder Jamie Brentlinger (Gambrills, Md.) led the Lancers with three goals while five others recorded a goal each. Zimmerman played the whole game in goal, recording 13 saves.
Off to a rough start, the Longwood Women's Lacrosse team has already suffered three injuries. Among those injuries are freshman Sarah Arndt (Pasadena, Md.) with a torn ACL, freshman Kacey Norwood (Chantilly, Va.) with a popped knee cap and senior Stifler with broken ribs. The Lancers, who made it to the semifinals in the league tourna¬ment last year, look to overcome these injuries and win their third conference title.
Longwood travels away again this Wednesday, playing William and Mary in Williamsburg. They will then host University of Cincinnati on Friday, March 2 at 4 p.m. in Farmville.
