FARMVILLE, Va. – Amid swirling winds and heavy rains associated with Hurricane Irene, senior Niamh Connolly (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) was unfazed as she struck with four seconds left to lift Radford field hockey over Lock Haven, 4-3 at Longwood's Athletics Facility Saturday afternoon.

Box Score

The Highlanders (2-0) built a 3-0 first half lead only to see the Eagles (0-1) rally back and tie the game with just 1:29 remaining on a breakaway goal by Leslie Ahern. After a Radford corner was cleared, Madonna Wadolowski (Norwalk, Conn./Brien McMahan) regrouped and sent a hard centering pass into the circle, where Connolly one-timed it into the boards for the game-winner.

“After letting the lead slip away, we were determined to get it right back,” said Connolly. “Madonna sent a great cross and I'm just glad I was in the right spot to touch it in and come out with the victory.”

Wadolowski's second helper of the season and 22nd of her career tied her with Sue Neal (1983-87) for the all-time mark for assists in program history.

Just as they did against Towson, seniors Courtney Poole (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) and Marlee Schramm (Mantua, N.J./West Deptford) staked Radford to a 2-0 lead with their second tallies of the season off corners. Poole struck just 3:46 into the match and Schramm followed at 15:55 off a feed from senior Ellie Staples (Newport News, Va./Menchville).

Wadolowski found the cage 2:32 after Schramm's marker to make it 3-0.

"After gutting out a win in the heat yesterday, we came out strong against a very good team and set the tone early," said head coach Jeff Woods.

Kelly Harsh converted on a penalty corner as her bouncing shot that eluded everybody on its way to the back of the net put the Eagles on the board a 29:00.

Prior to her tally, the Eagles were kept off the scoreboard as keeper Sidney Ecarnacion (Williamsburg, Va./Walsingham Academy) stopped four shots and sophomore Alayna Versage (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox) made two defensive saves.

Leslie Ahern inched LHU closer as she scored on a breakaway in the 53rd minute to cut Radford's lead to 3-2.

"Lock Haven put up a good fight to come back and tie the game," stated Woods. "Our girls finished strong by scoring under pressure in the end and taking the win."

Until the game-winning goal, Radford had several chances to extend its lead by LHU keeper Lindsay Staufenberg, who came in after the third goal, stopped all seven shots she faced. Encarnacion finished with five saves for the Highlanders.

Radford outshot Lock Haven, 20-13 and held a 15-8 advantage in corners.

Radford will be off until next Saturday, Sep. 3 when it travels to Liberty for a noon contest.