Lynchburg, Va. -- University of Lynchburg's field hockey team dropped its first conference decision of the season Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 loss to Shenandoah. 

On Senior Day, senior Kessa Romero scored for the 19th-ranked Hornets, and junior Kayla Brady made eight saves. But 17th-ranked Shenandoah scored twice in the fourth quarter to steal a crucial conference game from Lynchburg.

The Hornets earned their first penalty corner 5:17 into the game. They had three more chances from the corner in the first quarter but were unable to capitalize. Shenandoah's goalie Taylor Swann made four saves in the opening frame.

Shenandoah flipped the script in the second after Lynchburg's dominant first quarter. The away team had three shots and two penalty corners while holding Lynchburg without a shot. However, Brady came up with three big saves to send the game into halftime scoreless. 

Out of the break, the Hornets took four shots before earning their first corner of the second half in the 38th minute. Ryleigh Cameron settled the insert from Brittany Claybaugh, took one touch towards the cage, and ripped a shot. Romero redirected Cameron's shot into the cage to break the tie and for her first goal of the season. 

Five minutes later, Claybaugh was whistled for a yellow card. As she served a five-minute penalty that rolled into the fourth quarter, Lynchburg tried to hold onto the lead a player down. 

The Hornets nearly killed the entirety of the penalty unscathed, but Shenandoah tied things up two minutes into the final frame. 

Shenandoah earned four-straight penalty corners after scoring and converted the fourth corner into the go-ahead and game-winning goal. 

With five minutes remaining, Emily Yanes saw her shot saved by Swann, and the Hornets could not muster up another chance for an equalizer. 

Lynchburg (9-3, 1-1 ODAC) makes up a previously-postponed game at Randolph-Macon on Monday, Oct. 10. First touch is at 2 p.m. 

Prior to the game Saturday, Lynchburg celebrated its five seniors, Sydney Metz, Sarah McCollum, Martha Chiappazzi, Romero, and Yanes. All five players earned a start in the game. Also, the Class of 2023 has enjoyed two ODAC championships throughout their careers and have 53 wins so far. 

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--LYN--