VCU took to Cary Street Field Wednesday to face rival Longwood. Under
the lights, the Lancers got the best of the Rams, 3-1, to pick up their second
win in a row and their fourth of the season.
It didn’t take long for the Lancers to nab the lead. Mary Freeman scored on
a penalty corner shot assisted by Katie Claxton just 4:09 into regulation.
Junior Angelina Banaag (Virginia Beach/Green Run) pulled VCU even with
her first goal of the season in the 30th minute. Banaag aimed high and had
her initial shot deflected by the arm pad of goalkeeper Avanell Schmitz, but
she gathered her own rebound and chipped the ball in from 4 yards out.
Banaag’s goal was the last of the night for the Rams, who finished with only
one tally for the third consecutive match.
Cristin Newbold tallied what proved to be the game-winning goal for
Longwood, again assisted by Claxton. The score came on a speedy grounder
7:37 before halftime that beat senior goalkeeper Brittany LoVullo (Williamsville,
N.Y./Williamsville North) to the back of the net.
Unlike previous games this season, the Rams were unable to convert on
any of their three penalty corners in the first half and didn’t manage any
penalty-corner scoring opportunities in the second half.
Head coach Kelly McQuade made a defensive alteration at halftime by
replacing LoVullo with junior Laura Baker (Kent, England/Langley Park)
in goal for VCU.
The change didn’t save the Rams from defeat as Claxton added to her
busy night for the Lancers by netting an unassisted goal of her own in the
second half.
VCU couldn’t make good on any of its four shots and twice as many
scoring opportunities in the second half.
Bad breaks and tricky bounces voided valid scoring threats all night. The
crowd held its collective breath on several occasions as the ball narrowly
trickled wide of the goal.
Longwood walked away with the road victory despite being out-shot 11-8
in the match, but the team did take seven penalty corners.
The loss is the fourth in a row for VCU both to Longwood and overall.
The Rams’ record drops to 4-7 after a 3-1 start, and the team returns to the
field to host first-place CAA foe James Madison on Friday.