Box Score SALEM, VA – The Randolph College men's soccer team fell behind early to top-seeded Roanoke College and couldn't answer as the WildCats finished their 2012 season with a loss to the Maroons in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) semifinals in action from Kerr Stadium.
With the win, the Maroons (12-4-1) will host No. 6 Virginia Wesleyan College Sunday afternoon in Salem, VA after the Marlins advanced past Washington and Lee University Thursday in a penalty kick shootout. Randolph ends the season with a 9-7-3 record, its third straight winning campaign and its third consecutive appearance in the semifinal round of the tournament.
The host Maroons came out of the gate strong, controlling the midfield and the flanks. Roanoke's Patrick Bain put Roanoke on top in the 10th minute, as he converted a pass from AJ Tierce for the goal. On the play, Tierce fed a pass through the box, and after a teammate stepped over the pass, Bain fired an attempt that snuck past Randolph's Carter Smith (Greensboro, NC/Grimsley).
In the 31st minute, Randolph had a trio of opportunities, earning three corner kicks in a row. The back line of the Maroons was up to the task, keeping the WildCats off the board. Later in the half, Corey Sindle (Gloucester, VA/Gloucester) had a good chance, but was denied by RC's Cole Sinclair.
Both teams took five shots in the first half, while the WildCats chalked up five first half corner kicks to just the two of Roanoke. After the break, Randolph seemed to settle in, holding possession well through the midfield. In the 68th minute, Sindle had another solid chance but missed just wide. Seconds after that opportunity, Brian White snuck through the back line and scored an unassisted goal to double the Maroon lead to two.
Less than two minutes later, White struck again to put Roanoke up three goals. The WildCats and Maroons each took nine shots apiece on the evening, though Randolph took seven of the contest's 11 corners. Smith finished with three saves for the WildCats, while Sinclair picked up three stops for the Maroons.
The loss marked the end of three great careers for Sam McGarrity (Midlothian, VA/James River), Nicholas DiLodovico (Cobb Island, VA/Laplata) and Ryan Woloshin (Yorktown, VA/Grafton). The three helped Randolph to 43 wins over the last four years, including an ODAC title in 2011.
Oddly enough, in 2010 like this season, the WildCats defeated Guilford in the quarterfinals before dropping a 3-0 game in the semifinals of the ODAC Tournament to the top-seed. The next season, Randolph went 18-6 and earned its first ODAC men's soccer title.
The WildCats are set to return all 11 starters next year, as well as 27 players from this year's roster.
--RANDOLPH--
