Box Score For the second consecutive year, EMU's field hockey season came to an end with a loss at Lynchburg in the ODAC Tournament Semifinals. The Lady Royals succumbed to the nation's No. 3 team 4-0 Wednesday afternoon.
This is the sixth straight year the Hornets have knocked the women out of the playoffs, with the decision coming in the ODAC Championship match from 2006-09.
Eastern Mennonite actually had the first shot in Wednesday's game, earning a corner followed by a wide shot from Nicole Bencsik (Telford, PA/Souderton) in the third minute. But LC one-upped the women by scoring on their first attempt, taking a 1-0 lead 4:48 into the game.
The Lady Royals deflected the rest of the Hornets' strikes in the half, including a save on a penalty stroke by goalie Mary Beth Danaher (Matoaca, VA/Matoaca). Adriana Santiago (Souderton, PA/Christopher Dock) put a shot on goal for EMU in the 19th minute, but it was knocked away.
After being out-shot 17-2 in the first 35 minutes, the women started to wear out in the second. Lynchburg added goals in the 53rd, 58th and 70th minutes to seal the 4-0 decision.
Jenna Longenecker (Lancaster, PA/Conestoga Valley) had EMU's only other shot in the loss. Danaher racked up 13 saves, the second-highest total of her career.
Lynchburg was the only team to shut out EMU this year, doing the trick in the regular season and post season.
The Lady Royals close the year with a record of 10-11, including 5-3 in ODAC play. It was the program's first season below .500 since 2004.
