HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.- The Long Island University field hockey team fell to Longwood University, 4-0 in the season opener on Saturday afternoon. Junior forward Sammy Bell led the attacking front with a team high 11 shots, eight of them were on target.
 
Freshman defender Jonna Klein-Holte had three shots, while freshman midfielder Femke De Goeji and freshman midfielder Alyssa Hunt each had a shot. Offensively, the Sharks outshot the Lancers, 16-8.
 
Junior goalkeeper Rachel Vellis had two saves on the afternoon, and the Sharks successfully defended the one penalty corner that was given up throughout the entire game.
 
The Sharks came out strong, causing back-to-back penalty corners within the first three minutes of the game. Klein-Holte had the first opportunity but her shot was blocked. Bell followed that up with a shot from the top of the circle that was saved by the Longwood goalkeeper. Bell had the next three scoring opportunities for the Sharks, all of which were saved.
 
The defense kept the Lancers out of the offensive end for most of the first period. Longwood was able to capitalize on a penalty stroke to break open the scoreless tie in the 13^th minute of the game. The Lancers found the back of the net early in the second period to take a two-goal advantage. The Sharks had another opportunity with two more penalty corners, but Klein-Holte's shot was blocked, followed by Bell's shot which was once again saved by the Longwood goalkeeper.
 
LIU opened up the third period with another corner opportunity, but were unable to convert as both shots were saved. Longwood's lone offensive penalty corner came six minutes into the third period, and Caroline Wilm's shot off that corner was saved by Vellis.
 
Longwood extended its lead to three in the 36^th minute, and converted its second penalty stroke to close out the scoring for the day in the 43^rd minute. LIU had three more corners, but were unable to convert as all three shots were blocked.
 
The Sharks continued to pressure the Longwood defense in the fourth quarter with two quick penalty corners. Bell's shot off the first corner was saved, and Klein-Holte's shot just missed wide. Long Island had two more opportunities on penalty corners in the fourth quarter but were unable to convert.
 
The Sharks head to Virginia on Friday, September 6, taking on Virginia Commonwealth University for its first road game of the season. Game time at Cary Field is set for 3:00 pm.