Box Score LYNCHBURG, VA — Sophomore Marielle Rando (Powhatan, VA/Powhatan) scored two goals including the game-winner as the WildCat women's soccer team ended its 2011 home schedule with a 3-1 victory over the Royals of Eastern Mennonite University in league play Tuesday.
The win for Randolph College (5-9/2-8 ODAC) was its first over Eastern Mennonite since 2004, and also tied last year's win total of five. The WildCats have a chance to post the most wins since the same 2004 season if they can knock off Hollins University Saturday in Roanoke, VA at 2 p.m.
Randolph came out of the gate fast, taking seven of the game's first eight shots. None seemed to bother EMU keeper Jenni Beck, who was up to the task, making six saves in the first 20 minutes of the game. EMU (2-14/2-7 ODAC) answered with a few close shots but none hit the mark.
Randolph took the lead for good in the 40th minute, as Brittany Hammons (Newport News, VA/Grafton) fed a perfect ball to Rando who slotted it home for the goal. The score was her fourth of the season.
The WildCats added to their lead only 4:34 into the second half, as Rando took another great through ball from Hammons, made the goalie miss and tucked it into the empty net for the 2-0 lead. Hammons got a goal of her own at 71:59, blasting home a blocked shot from Rando. The score for Hammons was her team-best sixth of the year.
The Royals didn't go away, as Taylor Wegner made a long run, collided with two defenders and Hunter Gibson (Newport News, VA/Denbigh), but still had the wherewithal to stay with it and tap it in the empty net. After that, the WildCat defense would stand up, helping post the first home win of the year for Randolph.
The host WildCats outshot Eastern Mennonite 21-16, though the Royals held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks. Gibson earned her fifth win, making six stops along the way while Beck stopped nine shots in the loss.
The three goals at home are the most in a home game since a 3-1 win over Mary Baldwin College last season. Also, the win sent lone senior Courtney Collier (Gloucester, VA/Gloucester) away with a win in her last home game.
Randolph finishes its season 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon with the aforementioned contest with Hollins in Old Dominion Athletic Conference play.
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