For immediate release – 3/22/2016 - #2612
Dorton Tallies Five to Help WildCats Win ODAC Opener

LYNCHBURG, VA – Nicole Dorton scored five times for the Randolph College women's lacrosse team, as the WildCats defeated Hollins University 17-3.  The game on Tuesday afternoon was the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opener for the 'Cats, and it was their second-straight win.

Hannah Bradley got things started very quickly, getting fouled on her first drive to the net.  She went low on her free position attempt, and scored at the 29:26 mark.  Dorton added to the lead a little over 30 seconds later, with another low shot.  Less than two minutes later, Erin Campbell was awarded a free position shot, and she made it 3-0.

However, the leading ODAC scorer, Valerie Helmbrecht, brought Hollins back with a tough drive towards the crease.  But it would not slow down the hosts, as Randolph answered with a large run over the next five minutes.  Taylor Gamble found Taylor Riccardi at the top of the crease for her first.  Chelsea Marciniak scored on a nice drive, which was followed by two free position goals from Dorton.  Bradley put the score at 8-1 with an upper-right corner laser with 20:17 remaining in the half.

At 15:58, Helmbrecht cut the deficit once more, but the 'Cats responded again.  Dorton, Marciniak, and Bradley all tallied before the intermission, giving the WildCats an 11-2 lead.

Randolph came out of the break strong, as Gamble put the advantage at 10 with a strong drive from behind after a loose ball pickup.  Two minutes later, Dorton wrapped around the back of the crease, and bounced it low one more time to make the score 13-2 with 25:09 remaining.  Rikki Martinez grabbed another goal at 19:44 for Hollins, but the visitors would get no closer.

Tyrah Cobb-Davis drove half the field without being stopped, as she fired in her first-career goal at 17:34.  Marciniak put two more in, one courtesy of Kathy Butler, before Campbell finished the scoring.

As was the case with the previous win, the play of the defense and goaltending was outstanding.  The WildCats caused 16 turnovers.  Campbell caused three turnovers during the game.  Ashton Ewers made her second start in net, and picked up her second-straight win.  She stopped 14 shots and picked up six ground balls during the game.  In addition Dorton corralled seven draw controls, while Maddie Peters pulled in three.

Riccardi was phenomenal during the game.  She tied the program record for ground balls in a game with nine.  She also forced seven turnovers, which tied for the second-most ever in a game.

Emily Lowther saved 10 shots for Hollins (0-8 overall, 0-3).  Helmbrecht picked up three ground balls and three draw controls in the game.

Randolph (2-5, 1-0) will end its seven-game homestand this Saturday.  The WildCats host Carthage College (2-2) at 11 a.m.

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