FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood Lancers scored in the 14th minute to take a lead they would not relinquish, en route to a 4-0 win over the VMI Keydets in women's soccer action Wednesday night in Farmville, Va.
Four different players found the back of the net for homestanding Longwood (2-1-1), with Amanda Spencer tallying at 13:10 to open the scoring. Overall, Olivia Colella and Christina Corbin each had three points in the win. For the Keydets (1-2-0), Kirsten Hancock saw her first action since the 2012 season, as the goalkeeper played 62 minutes in goal and posted seven saves. Both figures stand as career-highs for the fifth-year senior.
After Spencer opened the scoring off a Colella pass at 13:10, Longwood got on the board again in the 26th minute. Corbin beat a Keydet defender to a loose ball in the far corner of the goalie box and was able to get a shot off. The try beat Sydnie Bligh to make it a 2-0 game.
Bligh was pulled moments later, although she would play 42 additional minutes in the field. Hancock entered in the 30th minute and the VMI defense held the Lancers without a shot for the remainder of the half, sending the match to the break with the Keydets down, 2-0.
That margin grew to 3-0 in the 47th minute. Samantha Phillips drilled a shot off the post that caromed to Colella's feet for a simple shot and goal, her second of the year. Phillips was credited with an assist on the play.
Hancock would then stop five shots over the next 28 minutes, but the fifth save caused problems.
After the Keydet netminder stopped a try by Corbin, the ball came loose to Bridget Bergquist for an open shot. Bergquist put the try home for a 4-0 Longwood lead with less than 17 minutes to go.
The Keydets mounted offensive pressure in the 84th minute, but Longwood goalkeeper Maria Kirby stopped an Emily Adams try. Adams then misfired wide just over two minutes later, and the Keydets would not get another shot off in the 4-0 setback.
All told, Longwood finished the match with a 25-2 edge in shots and an 8-4 advantage in corner kicks. VMI's two keepers combined for eight saves, while Hailey Machen and Kirby of Longwood were credited with one save by Kirby late in the match.
VMI women's soccer is back in action Monday, as the Keydets return to Patchin Field to host the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs. Opening kick is set for 4 p.m.
