Five first half goals by No. 16 Lynchburg was enough to send the Big Red field hockey team to their first defeat of the 2009 season by a final score of 6-2 on Sunday from Lynchburg, Va.

The Hornets took a 3-0 lead in the opening 19 minutes thanks to goals by Jordan Warrington, Lindsay Lenoard and Allie Weir.  Denison would cut that lead to 3-1 in the 27th minute when first-year Brooke Donovan (Westport, Conn./Staples) scored her first career goal after having two previous shots off penalty corner's blocked.

Just before the conclusion of the first half, Lynchburg took a commanding 5-1 lead when Allie Weir and Jenny Weir scored goals within two minutes of each other.  Allie Weir would finish the game with three goals off 19 shots.  Her goal late in the first half broke the Lynchburg and Old Dominion Athletic Conference record for career goals scored.

Denison would muster one final goal in the 57th minute when sophomore Kelly Whipple (Ridgefield, Conn./St. Luke's) scored off an assist by Kristen Schneider (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) to set the final score at 6-2.

DU goalkeeper Brittany Benson (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) finished with a career-high 19 saves.  Lynchburg goalie Sarah Cates allowed two goals and did not post a save in her 59 minutes of action.

The Big Red fall to 2-1 on the season and will open their 2009 schedule on Wednesday (Sept. 9) against Ohio Wesleyan University.