Friday’s Scoreboard
Vermont 1,Longwood 0
Miami 2, Appalachian State 0
Stories Courtesy Of MAC Sports Information
Vermont 1,Longwood 0
Box Score
FARMVILLE, Va. – In a defensive-minded contest, it was one goal that made all the difference.
The Longwood field hockey team dropped a tight 1-0 decision to Vermont on Friday afternoon. The teams combined for just 11 total shots and four total saves as both sides limited offensive chances throughout the contest. Catamount sophomore Clodagh Ferry tallied the lone goal on a corner in the fourth quarter to give Vermont (4-4) the lead. Lancer forward Olivia Wawrzyniak rocketed a shot off the post with just over four minutes remaining, but Longwood (4-3) was unable to find the equalizer before time ran out.
"This was a step up in our performance from previous games," Lancer head coach Iain Byers said. "They were a very tactically aware team and it was a really enjoyable game. Obviously we are disappointed with a loss, but the actual mechanics of the game and how the game panned out made it an enjoyable game to watch.
"There was a lot of strategy to it from both groups, and our team and theirs both adjusted to it very well. We saw a lot better ball movement and a lot more consistency from our players. The score line is unfortunate, but as a reflection of the game, it was always going to be a one goal game—unfortunately it just went against us."
Goalkeeper Katie Wyman made three saves before her stretch of three consecutive shutouts was snapped in the fourth quarter. Dating back to Longwood's game against Georgetown on Sept. 6, Wyman went 238:58 consecutive minutes of game action without conceding a goal. Defensively, she was aided by backline Luna Lopez, Rio Weber, and Clara Meschini, who helped hold Vermont to just six total shots in the game, including just three across the opening three quarters.
"It's a team effort," said the two-time All-MAC performer Wyman. "If it wasn't for them, I probably wouldn't have allowed one goal in the last four games—it might have been four or five. The defense has been killing it. Even though we lost today, they have been really good all season. We had to work on our outlets, which we fixed and has looked good. The forwards and midfielders are getting back and helping me out as well—it's a team effort."
Wawrzyniak led the Lancers with two of the five total shots for Longwood. Freshman Caroline Verhappen, making her second straight start, got to a loose ball after Wawrzyniak's fourth quarter shot ricocheted off the post, but she pushed her shot just wide of the Catamount goal.
Vermont's goal came at the 53:26 mark of the fourth quarter. Junior midfielder Peppe Haantjes received a pass out of a penalty corner and slid it to Ferry, who ripped a one-time shot past Wyman for the game-winning strike.
The Lancers have another game this weekend, as they will host the #5 Virginia on Sunday, Sept. 29 at Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field. The game is scheduled to start at 12 p.m.
Miami 2, Appalachian State 0
Box Score
BOONE, N.C. – The Miami University field hockey team (5-4, 2-0 MAC) shutout Appalachian State on Friday by a 2-0 margin in its first of two games in North Carolina this weekend.
"I think today's game was really intense," said senior Marie Görner. "Basically a typical conference game. We put a lot of energy and intensity in the game. In the fourth quarter, App State was putting more pressure on us, however, we found a good way to move the ball out of the back. We played very well with each other which made the game even more fun!"
Miami earned the first two penalty corners of the game and took the first five shots before Appalachian State got a penalty corner and shot to end the first quarter and another to begin the second.
Lexi Silver put the RedHawks on the board first during the 19th minute of play. She scored her fourth of the season from in front of the cage with Noor Breedijk earning the assist.
Freshman goalkeeper Isabelle Perese made a save with less than a minute remaining in the first half to preserve Miami's 1-0 lead going into halftime.
At the half, the RedHawks had the 8-4 lead in shots, 5-3 lead in shots on goal and 4-2 lead in penalty corners. Perese made three saves during the first half.
Miami took the only two shots on the field in the third quarter. Appalachian State goalkeeper Rachel Gaines made her fifth save of the game to keep it a one-goal game going into the final quarter of play.
Leonor Berlie scored on a direct penalty corner from Neely Lochmoeller and Görner to increase the RedHawks' lead to 2-0 with 13 minutes to play. This was Berlie's third of the season.
Perese made her fourth and final save of the game during the 51st minute of play on the Mountaineers lone shot of the second half to preserve her second solo shutout of the season.
"Winning a MAC game is no easy feat," said Silver. "Our conference is all about the battle, from start to end. Today, we were relentless. I'm proud of how collective the effort was today from everyone on the field to the bench. We're so strong when we work together and we will carry this mentality into Sunday's game."
Berlie led all players with six shots and five shots on goal. Miami led in shots 13-5, shots on goal 9-4 and penalty corners 5-3.
The RedHawks play at Davidson on Sunday at 1 p.m. to conclude the road trip.
