Box Score For Immediate Release – 9/24/16 - #055
Quinn's Big Day not enough for WildCats
LYNCHBURG, VA – Quinn-Lynn Bates put on a great display in goal for the Randolph College women's soccer team on Saturday, but the WildCats fell to Virginia Wesleyan College 1-0. The hot day was the first Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) contest for both teams.
Bates was called on early to make her first save, recording her first less than two minutes in. The Marlins kept up their attack, earning several early corner kicks and a few more shots over the first 20 minutes of the game. The 'Cat defense cleared out every corner, while Bates added an additional stop. Another attempt was blocked as the game continued to be 0-0.
VWC kept up its push throughout the half, but the backline and Bates teamed well to allow nothing to go in. Erin McClelland and Natalia Tomlin made several key clearances, while Taylor Gamble stripped an opposing Marlin at the top of the penalty area in the 32nd minute. Bates also made several key saves, including a leaping stop in the 40th minute. Randolph had its share of chances with several dangerous attacks. Megan Kruse had her shot saved late, as the score would be 0-0 at the half.
Following the intermission, the visitors continued to pressure. There were a couple of early dangerous shots, but they either went wide, or Bates was there to clean it up. At 50:47, Ryan McCurry sent a low shot to Bates and she stopped it, but the ball almost trickled across the line, however, staying out and preserving the tie.
A few minutes later, Alissa Gembach had a chance on goal, but it was stopped by the Marlin goalkeeper. Then in the 59th minute, the Marlins earned a corner and were stopped. However, with the ball bouncing around, a WildCat defender was called for a handball, giving Virginia Wesleyan the PK. Bates stopped the initial shot by Zoe Traficante, but it bounced off the post and over the line for the 1-0 lead.
Both teams then exchanged several shots, and the Marlins were awarded another penalty to try and double the lead. The shot hit post and stayed out of the back of the net. The 'Cats made several more attempts on goal throughout the final 15 minutes, but none of the shots could find net in the waning minutes.
Bates finished the game with 11 saves, which is a season-high for the junior netminder. Taylor Chapman made three saves for the Marlins (3-3 overall, 1-0 ODAC).
Randolph (0-5-1, 0-1) heads on the road for its next two games. The first will be at fellow ODAC institution Guilford College on Wednesday, with the game starting at 7 p.m.
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