With a chance to reach the Mid-American Conference tournament for the first time at stake, the Longwood field hockey team held firm with a 3-0 win over Missouri State on Oct. 29. The Senior Day win clinched the No. 3 seed, and their first trip to the conference tournament since joining the conference in 2014.
“Senior Day’s always a little nerve-wracking, you want to put in a good performance, but there’s a lot of emotions going on,” said head coach Iain Byers. “We’re really happy for them (the seniors) to finish on such a high… but really happy for their careers to continue with a MAC tournament to go to.”
Following the Senior Day festivities, the opening half was a nervy affair. The Lancers pelted the Bears’ goal with 10 shots, but were unable to break through and went to the half still locked at 0-0.
“I think deep down, we knew we’d come out on top, and I think we knew we had it in us to come back in the second half,” said senior midfielder Ellen Ross. “Obviously it was nerve-wracking seeing all the shots up there and no goals, but deep down we knew we could do it.”
That confidence would be proven just four minutes into the second half as junior forward and leading MAC scorer Edel Nyland struck from a penalty corner to take a 1-0 lead. Just two minutes later, junior defender Kate Colley tapped in another goal to make it a 2-0 advantage for the Lancers.
In the 48th minute, Nyland notched her second goal off of another penalty corner to cap off a ruthless eight-minute sequence for Longwood. The two goals brought Nyland’s tally to 18 for the season, setting a Longwood record for goals in a season in the Division I era.
“It’s rewarding to work on something and see the results of it. But like I say every single game, it comes from Lauren (Bernard, senior goalkeeper) and the defense, and it comes through the mid, and it comes up to us,” said the modest Nyland, who is in the top-10 in the NCAA in scoring. “I’m just honored to be the one that can put it across the line a few times.”
For the five seniors, including Ross, the Senior Day win is all the sweeter considering it booked their maiden berth in the conference championship.
“It’s awesome to be making history for this program,” said Ross, the three-year team captain. “It’s meant everything to me. Obviously, I’m so sad that it’s over so quickly. But this has by far been the best year that I’ve had here.”
The season continues for the Lancers against Miami (OH) on Nov. 4, in the MAC tournament semifinals in Kent, Ohio.
