For Immediate Release – 4/6/16 - #292
WildCats Drop Heartbreaker to Panthers

LYNCHBURG, VA – Ferrum College took its only lead of the game with 1:44 remaining in the game, and hung on to defeat the Randolph College women's lacrosse team 12-11 in nonconference action on Wednesday.

FC had the first attempts in the game, but Ashton Ewers proved to be stout in between the pipes.  She stopped three shots in the first three minutes of the game.  After three more minutes of each team getting an opportunity, Taylor Riccardi forced a turnover, giving possession back to the WildCats.  After a successful clear, Hannah Bradley got the ball outside the 12 and the 'Cats ran their play to perfection.  She drove right and took the first lead.  The lead would not last long as Julianne Bove tied it less than two minutes on a tough drive.

But, the WildCats answered right away with a nice run.  Leah Hughes corralled the ensuing draw control and she worked her way through the defense.  She fired the ball home for her first goal.  On the following possession, the WildCats got the ball back after a shot over the crossbar.  Riccardi drove from behind the crease and hit the back of the net.  Chelsea Marciniak completed the 3-0 run at 16:55.  She had a long-distance shot go in the back of the net, but she was fouled.  Her second attempt was two yards closer but just as successful.

Ferrum called a timeout following the Marciniak tally.  Bove scored shortly after, but Dorton pushed the lead back to three right after.  She picked up the draw control, got fouled, and finished her free position attempt.  The Panthers came back with a run right after.  Bove and Haley Overstreet tallied within two minutes to bring the visitors within one.

However, the WildCats responded once again.  Randolph put the pressure on, and Graceanne Gershner stopped the first shot.  But Riccardi forced another turnover, and Dorton found the back of the net for her second of the game.  A similar sequence happened within the next minute and a half.  Marciniak's shot was saved, but the 'Cats forced a turnover.  On the restart, Hughes hit Dorton, who found Marciniak on the door step.  She finished to bring the lead to 7-4.

Then in the final two minutes, the two teams traded goals.  Brittany Hall and Audrey Ramsey tallied for the visitors, while Riccardi and Marciniak fired their shots home to put the score at 9-6 going into the half.

The second half saw the two teams struggle to find the back of the net.  The defenses and the goalies were very good during the stanza.  Ramsey was the first to find the back of the net with 26:24 on the clock, bringing the lead down to two.  But neither team would score for the next 13 minutes.

Ewers and Gershner made several stops, while several turnovers were forced.  Teagan Stanley, Marciniak, Dana Cavallo, and Dorton were all on that end for the 'Cats.  Finally, the WildCats got the ball near the end line after Riccardi was fouled.  She made a nice drive from the eight-meter mark and scored to put the score at 10-7.

Ferrum made its run and tied the game with 5:39 left.  Randolph called a timeout and Marciniak took back the advantage shortly after.  Ewers stopped a few shots to keep Randolph up, but Overstreet found Bove with 2:28 left to tie the score.  Ramsey then tallied on a free position shot to take the lead for good at 1:44.  The WildCats had one more opportunity, but the shot hit the post, sealing the visitors win.

Ewers made 11 stops and picked up five ground balls in the game.  Dorton pulled in 11 draw controls, which tied the third-highest single game total in program history, to go along with her three points.  Marciniak led the team with four goals and Riccardi also had a hat trick.  Taylor Gamble forced two turnovers on the defensive end.

Gershner made 12 saves in the win for the Panthers (5-9 overall).  Ramsey and Bove each ended the game with five goals.

Randolph (2-9, 1-2 ODAC) returns to Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action on Saturday.  The WildCats head across town to Lynchburg College (7-3, 3-1) for a 2 p.m. game.

###