For immediate release – 3/1/2016 - #231
WildCats Fall in Home Opener

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College women's lacrosse team played its first home game of the season on Tuesday, but Southern Virginia University left WildCat Stadium with the 14-5 victory.

SVU started the game off very quickly, scoring the first five goals of the game.  However the WildCats settled down immediately after.  Anna Belliveau made an impressive stop, which led to a quick transition shot by Hannah Bradley.  Her shot was saved, but on the ensuing transition, Chelsea Marciniak caused a turnover and the 'Cats got the ball back.

Alyssa Umberger saw her shot go wide, but the WildCats retained possession.  Bradley shifted through the middle of the defense to score for the first time of the game.  Shortly after, Umberger found the back of the net for her first goal of the season.

The Knights stopped the run less than a minute later, but Randolph responded at the 9:11 mark.  Taylor Riccardi was fouled inside the 8-meter.  She proceeded to fire her free position shot in the back of the net, once again bringing the deficit to three.

The 'Cats continued pressuring but had two attempts blocked.  Southern Virginia turned those defensive stops into offensive momentum.  SVU scored four goals within two and a half minutes to go into the half with a 10-3 lead.

Both defenses were very stout to begin the second period.  Belliveau stopped the first shot she saw.  Marciniak followed that by causing Zoe Bradshaw to turn the ball over.  Ashley Ahlgren returned the favor to Marciniak, but neither team could get on the board.

Following an exchange of shots, Bradshaw broke the second-half stalemate.  But the WildCats continued to batlle.  Belliveau made another stop and the team continued to put pressure on the Knights defensive unit.  After several attempts, the WildCats got the ball back and Nicole Dorton scored the first goal of her career.  The goal came in a man-down situation, as two of her teammates were in the penalty area.

Once again, both teams went through a period of time where the defenses could not be penetrated.  Belliveau made a couple of saves and the WildCats should have broken through, but Bradley had a goal waved off to award a free position shot.

Southern Virginia finally broke through for two more tallies, but it was answered on the other end.  Bradley once again had a goal waved off, but Taylor Riccardi found Erin Campbell soon after for her first goal of the season.  However it was not enough as the Knights won the game.

Bradley led the team with a goal and four caused turnovers.  She also scooped up three ground balls.  Dorton grabbed three draw controls and three ground balls to go along with her goal.  Belliveau stopped seven shots and picked up a team-high four ground balls.

Rainey Whitworth and Bradshaw each had five goals for Southern Virginia (3-1 overall).  Whitworth finished with an impressive stat line of six groundballs, eight draw controls, and four caused turnovers.

Randolph (0-2) continues its homestand on Saturday.  The WildCats will host Goucher College (1-1) at noon. 

###