Box Score LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College women's soccer game held the potent Roanoke Maroons scoreless over the final 45 minutes of the game but three first half goals proved to be enough as the WildCats fell 3-0 to Roanoke in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opener for both teams Friday night.
The WildCats (3-2/0-1 ODAC) held possession for the first couple of minutes, as sophomore Marielle Rando (Powhatan, VA/Powhatan) had a good scoring opportunity just 1:31 into the game that was blocked by the Roanoke defense. Rando had another good chance 10 minutes later, but it was saved by Roanoke's Carolyn Sarbacher.
The Maroons (4-1-1/1-0 ODAC) got the eventual game winner from Cindy Suttora at 22:38, as she carried the ball all the way up the right sideline and beat Randolph's Hunter Gibson (Newport News, VA/Denbigh) near post for the opening score.
Roanoke double its lead 12 minutes later as Erin Phillips struck unassisted for her first goal of the season, as she got some space out front of the goal and sent it to the left side of the net with her right foot. In the 42nd minute, Randolph's Ashley Oswald (Mechanicsville, VA/Lee-Davis) blasted a shot that was saved, and the transition from the Maroons ended up with Stephanie Parenteau goal at 41:42.
That was all the defense of Randolph and Gibson would allow for the rest of the game, as the stout back line of the WildCats blanked the Maroons for the remainder or regulation.
Gibson made seven of her 12 saves in the second half, while Samantha Wittie (Canyon Lake, TX/Smithson Valley) , Elisa Otero (Chevy Chase, MD/St. John's) , Brianne Roth (Yorktown, VA/Grafton), Courtney Collier (Gloucester, VA/Gloucester) and Kelsey Cline (Glen Allen, VA/Deep Run) all shined in the back.
Ashley Oswald had possibly her best game of the season in the central midfield, routinely beating defenders with the ball at her feet. Rando finished with a team-best three shots for Randolph. Parenteau had a goal on a game-high nine shots, while Devon Harrell earned an assist for the visitors.
Roanoke outshot the 'Cats 24-4 on the evening while earning all five of the game's corner kicks. Roanoke's Sarbacher got the win, making two saves as she combined on the shutout with Kristyn Brogan and Lauren Fischelis.
The WildCats are off until next Wednesday when they travel to Washington & Lee University for another tough ODAC game with the Generals at 4:30 p.m.
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