LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bellarmine field hockey picked up its first win of the 2026 season Friday afternoon, defeating Longwood 3-1 at Trager Stadium.
The victory marked the first home win for head coach Toby Platt and Bellarmine's first home victory since Oct. 15, 2023. The Knights improved to 1-6 overall and 1-1 in conference play with the win.
The two teams battled through a scoreless first half, with Bellarmine holding a 5-7 disadvantage in shots but keeping Longwood off the scoreboard. Megan Clauser made three saves in the opening half, while the Knights continued to create opportunities of their own, including a pair of shots from Wende de Witte.
Bellarmine broke through in the third quarter when Luna Tuncay scored her first goal of the season at the 35:07 mark. Wende de Witte provided the assist, giving the Knights a 1-0 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
De Witte then added a milestone of her own early in the fourth, finding the back of the cage at 49:02 for her first career goal. The goal extended Bellarmine's lead to 2-0.
Longwood answered with a goal at 52:43, but Bellarmine responded less than five minutes later. Tuncay scored her second goal of the afternoon at 57:32, this time off an assist from Brooke Buchanan, to restore the Knights' two-goal advantage and seal the 3-1 victory.
Tuncay finished with two goals on the afternoon, while de Witte added a goal and an assist. Megan Clauser made four saves in goal as Bellarmine held Longwood to one goal on 12 shots. The Knights registered 16 shots in the victory.
The win gave Bellarmine its first victory of the season, its first home win under Platt and its first home triumph in nearly three years, while Tuncay and de Witte each recorded their first goals of the season and de Witte secured the first goal of her collegiate career.
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