Box Score For immediate release – 9/26/2015 - #047
Quirk Keeps a Clean Sheet in Family Weekend Win
LYNCHBURG, VA – On a rainy Saturday of Family Weekend, Stephanie Quirk stopped all six shots on goal to help the Randolph College women's soccer team defeat Emory & Henry College 2-0 on Saturday. The win was the first Old Dominion Athletic Conference victory for the WildCats in this short season.
The first half saw two teams in attack mode. The Wasps put their first shot on goal less than two minutes into the game, but Quirk was there to make the stop. The 'Cats then had their first shot, as Patricia Garrett attempted a blast from outside box, but it sailed high of the goal. While both teams pushed over the next 20 minutes, only three shots found themselves on goal. Quirk made two of the saves and counterpart Kieran Liseski made the other.
Both teams continued to press, but few shots were registered due to the play of the respective backlines. Erin McClelland and Alex Abernathy worked well to thwart any attack by E&H.
Finally, in the 42nd minute, the WildCats broke through. Alissa Gembach took the second Randolph corner and found McClelland who was standing outside the box. She sent a rocket to the back corner, to give Randolph a 1-0 lead at the half.
The second stanza started with the Wasps focusing on trying to get the tying goal. It would prove to no avail as the WildCats backline and Quirk continued to keep them at bay. Quirk was called on several times to take away crosses and did a beautiful job of doing so.
As the half wore on, the Randolph attack of Delaney Doyle and Sam Hablas continued to go at the backline of Emory & Henry. The constant pressure proved fruitful in the 85th minute, as Ally Ramos sent a great through ball that got to Doyle 15 yards outside the box. Doyle controlled it and new Wasp goalie Kayla Wright came out of the goal and almost made the save. But Doyle scored her second WildCat goal to seal the victory.
The game, as most ODAC contests are, was very physical. There were two cautions given by the referee, and 26 total fouls called in the game.
Emily Belanger took five shots, with three being on net for the Wasps (2-6-1 overall, 0-2 ODAC).
Randolph (2-6-1, 1-2) receives a midweek bye, before returning to action next Saturday. The WildCats will play a nonconference game against Johnson and Wales (NC) at home, with kickoff set for 2 p.m.
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