Box Score FERRUM, VA — First-year striker Brittany Hammons (Yorktown, VA/Grafton) netted a goal in the 39th minute and fellow newcomer Hunter Gibson (Newport News, VA/Denbigh) made that lead stand up in goal as the WildCats opened the season with a 1-0 victory over Ferrum College in non-conference play Thursday evening.
The win for the WildCats was the first time since the 2002 season that the WildCats have started the season with a victory. It was also the third consecutive season that the Panthers and WildCats played to a 1-0 season opening result, as Ferrum took the previous two season openers.
The Panthers (0-1) stormed out of the gates, taking the game's first five shots over the initial 20 minutes. In the 13th minute of the game, Ferrum missed a chance to score as LaQuinta Garrett hit the post. Gibson would make three saves during that sequence to preserve the scoreless contest.
Ferrum kept the pressure on, but the back line of the WildCats (1-0) was stout not allowing the hosts to get anything on net. The tables turned though in the 38th minute, as Randolph went on the offensive, earning their first corner kick of the evening. Shortly after the corner, Hammons took a pass from Marielle Rando (Powhatan, VA/Powhatan) and buried it past Ferrum keeper Briana Bard for the 1-0 lead.
Following the halftime intermission, the host Panthers scrambled desperately to score the equalizer but it never came due to the stout play of Gibson. The first-year net minder made four saves in the second half to earn her first collegiate clean sheet.
In total, the Panthers outshot their guests 25-5 on the evening and earned nine corners to the three of Randolph. Randolph was whistled for 11 fouls on the evening, and picked up a pair of yellow cards in the win.
Hammons paced the WildCats with two shots on goal and the game-winner, while juniors Samantha Wittie (Canyon Lake, TX/Smithson Valley) and Amanda Cooper (Canyon Lake, TX/Smithson Valley) and first-year Melisa Rodriguez (Culpeper, VA/Eastern View) all fired shots for Randolph. Gibson made eight saves when it was all said and done, playing the full 90 minutes.
Garrett and Casey Johnson finished with a game-high six shots for Ferrum, while Baird made two saves in the loss.
Randolph will head to our nation's capital on Saturday for a non-conference contest with the Tigers of Trinity College (DC) at noon.
###
