The Longwood field hockey team fell to Miami University by a score of 4-1 on Monday in the second game of a weekend set in Farmville.
The Redhawks took the opening faceoff, but the game itself was relatively even for the first part of the match, which featured a spectacular save by goalkeeper Kaye Goulding, who returned to the team this year after missing 2012 due to an injury.
It was not too long after that when Miami scored the game’s opening goal as Emily Gruesser fed Grace Leeker in front of the net, who finished past Goulding 15 minutes into the game. Miami doubled their lead nine minutes later with another score off of a direct corner, as Valentina Neira tapped it past Goulding. With seven minutes to go in the half, Miami again scored as Gruesser recorded her third assist of the day when Gabby Goldach finished on an effort of her own. Later in the first half, Longwood midfielder Stacey de Grandhomme was hurt a second time when a Miami player inadvertently nailed her in the back with the ball, and de Grandhomme did not return. Head Coach Iain Byers said afterward, “We came off the starting blocks a little slow. Miami was very precise on their corners, and we didn't play well in the first half."
Nobody was able to get on the score sheet for most of the second half before Longwood’s sophomore forward Kim Ruiter redeemed herself for an earlier miss, scoring off a rebound left by Miami keeper Sarah Mueller. Miami’s Carla Romagosa wrapped things up with a goal with 5:29 to go that sealed any hopes of a Longwood comeback.
