NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The No. 5 Salisbury University field hockey team earned a key 2-1 win against No. 12 Lynchburg College in a neutral-site game played at Christopher Newport University on Monday night.

The battle of ranked teams saw action on both ends of the field, but it was the Sea Gulls (9-2) who were able to find the back of the cage twice for the win.

The first offensive chance of the game came for Lynchburg, six minutes into the contest when the Hornets (11-3) got the first penalty corner of the game. Nicole Simpao fired two shots on the possession – one blocked and the other stopped by sophomore goalkeeper Tressie Windsor.

Salisbury would get its own handful of chances five minutes later and turned in the first goal of the game with precision passing off one of the team's three first-half penalty corner chances. Senior Sam Johnson inserted from the left side, and the pass found junior Casie Preisch on the right wing. Preisch wound up for a shot, but slid a pass through toward the left post where Johnson was waiting to slam home the goal – her seventh score of the season.

Salisbury controlled play through the next 20 minutes, maintaining the 1-0 lead.

After being held in check throughout much of the first half, the Hornets would counter later in the period with a flurry of penalty corner chances in the final five minutes, coming through with the equalizer with just under two minutes showing on the clock. Simpao got the ball at the top of the circle and avoided one Sea Gull defender before firing a shot into the left side of the cage, which was deflected on the way, tying the match at 1-1 heading to halftime.

The Hornets would get a number of early chances in the second half, but were limited to just two penalty corners in the first few minutes, unable to get through the Salisbury defense, anchored by seniors Breck Sullivan and Amanda Cooper and junior Annah Brittingham, for any shot attempts.

The momentum changed back to the Sea Gulls' end of the field, with the game winner coming off the stick of junior Hannah Miller in the 45th minute. Johnson inserted on a penalty corner to senior Courtney Jantzen on the left side. Jantzen sent the pass to Miller at the top of the circle, but a Lynchburg defender got a piece of the ball popping it into the air. Miller settled the ball before firing just inside the left post for the 2-1 lead.

One of Lynchburg's best looks at the net in the final 25 minutes was a penalty corner with 10 minutes remaining when Elaine Ritschard ended up with the ball on the left wing. Ritschard had room to wind up and fire a shot which Windsor was able to turn away with a calm kick save.

The Hornets continued to pressure the goal through the closing minutes of the match, but the Salisbury defense would protect the lead and preserve the 2-1 victory.

Salisbury outshot Lynchburg 17-11 in the contest, while Windsor made four saves to claim the victory. The Sea Gulls put 10 of their 17 shots on target, while Hornet goalkeeper Beka Hess made eight saves.

The Sea Gulls return to action this Wednesday, October 21, hosting St. Mary's College of Maryland at Sea Gull Stadium. The contest is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., as Salisbury will honor its five seniors prior to the start of the match.