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FARMVILLE, Va. – Led by two goals and an assist by freshman Mijntje Ligtenberg, the Ohio field hockey team (5-2, 1-1 MAC) defeated Longwood (2-6, 0-2 MAC), 3-2, in a thrilling back and forth contest Friday evening at Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field.
 
Overall, Longwood outshot the Bobcats, 19-15 with 13 shots on goal, compared to Ohio's eigh.t Longwood also generated nine corners, while Ohio registered six. 
 
Individually, Ligtenberg led Ohio with two goals and one assist on seven shots with three on goal. Senior Katelyn Whittle (Glenwood, Md.) added one goal on two shots, while junior Meela Kopp (Louisville, Ky.) added two attempts with one on goal. Sophomore Merle Kal (Haarlem, The Netherlands), freshmen Sasha Dikotla (Johannesburg, South Africa) and Anouk Plaehn (Lower Saxony, Germany) and senior Weslee Littlefield (Oakland, Maine) all added one attempt on goal for the Bobcats. 
 
In net, graduate student Nele Graner (Bonn, Germany) played all 60 minutes, allowing two goals and making 11 saves on 19 shots faced. 
 
Ohio struck first early in the first quarter, with Whittle scoring 1:47 into the match, putting the Bobcats up 1-0 after the first quarter of action. After the first quarter, the second quarter of action saw the Bobcats generate several chances, but the Longwood defense held strong, keeping the game 1-0 going into the half. 
 
At the half, Ohio recorded eight shots, while Longwood registered seven. Ohio also generated four corners to Longwood's two. Longwood led with five shots on goal to the Bobcats' four.
 
Individually, Ligtenberg led with and assist, four shots with one on goal, while Whittle added one goal on one shot. 
 
Longwood struck in the 38^th minute on a goal mid-way through the third period, knotting the game at 1-1. Ohio responded before the end of the quarter when Ligtenberg capitalized on her own blocked shot, giving Ohio a 2-1 lead in the 41^st minute. Both teams generated a few chances over the final four minutes of the quarter, but the Ohio defense held strong, keeping the 2-1 lead going into the final quarter. 
 
In the fourth quarter, Longwood responded in the 50^th minute, tying the game at 2-2 off a penalty corner. Ohio responded in the 56^th minute, when Ligtenberg scored again, giving the Bobcats the 3-2 lead with less than five minutes remaining. Both teams generated chances over the remainder of the game, with the Ohio defense successfully defending three Longwood corners over the remaining 45 seconds, helping secure the 3-2 win. 
 
Up next, the Bobcats stay in the state of Virginia when they head to VCU on Sunday, Sept. 25. First touch is set for 1 p.m. 
 
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