For Immediate Release – 9/3/16 - #026
Randolph Comes Up Short in Opener

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College women's soccer team started its season on Saturday night, taking on Ferrum College in the opener for the eighth-straight year.  However, the Panthers got the best of the WildCats, winning 3-0 in a non-conference match-up.

Both teams started out aggressively, winning corner kicks early within the first three minutes of the game.  However, neither side could get a shot out of the set pieces.  Soon after though, both teams had shots, but each went wide, with Erin McClelland sending her attempt to the left.

FC grabbed momentum soon after, putting several shots on goal.  Stephanie Quirk continued where she left off from last year, and stopped three in a row.  At 25:41, Ferrum broke through.  Chloe Hudson took the thrown in pass from Alexis McCargo, and scored from outside the box.

The Panthers continued to attack, but Quirk made three more saves.  Natalia Tomlin, playing in her first collegiate game, cleared the ball off the line after a Ferrum corner kick to keep the score at 1-0 entering the half.

Coming out of the break, Randolph earned the first shot.  Hunter Robinson made a nice move to break free of a defender.  She fired one on goal, but it was stopped by Taylor Dodson.  FC came back and put two shots on goal.  Quirk kept the first one out, but Grace Mueller chipped the next one into the back of the net.

Soon after, Quirk made the highlight of the night.  The Panthers were on a fast break and sent a ball into the middle.  Quirk read it perfectly and dove to make a diving stop.  Missy Hussey came to the line and cleared it off to keep the score where it was.

With just under 20 minutes left in the game, the WildCats got their best opportunity of the night.  After a foul, McClelland sent a perfect ball through to Sam Hablas.  Hablas beat the keeper but had a tough angle and hit the post.  Unfortunately, Ferrum came back on the counter and scored its third goal, putting the final at 3-0.

Quirk finished the game with nine saves.  Payton Stuart scored the final tally of the night for the Panthers (1-1 overall).

Randolph (0-1) will continue its homestand on Tuesday.  The WildCats will host William Peace University (0-2) at 6:30 p.m.

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