For Immediate Release – 3/21/17 - #252
WildCats Comeback Attempt Comes Up Short

BEUNA VISTA, VA – The Randolph College women's lacrosse team played at Southern Virginia University on Tuesday night.  The WildCats fell behind early but cut things to one, only to see the Knights win the nonconference game 12-9.

SVU controlled things early on, as Zoe Bradshaw found the back of the net three times in the first five minutes.  However, the WildCats answered back shortly after the third tally.  Chrissy Shackleford started it by stopping a shot.  Then after the successful clear, Hannah Bradley was fouled in the eight-meter.  She finished off the free position attempt, scoring the WildCats opener.

Southern Virginia made it a three-goal advantage once again at 23:30, but the next 10 minutes were highlighted by defensive play.  Neither defense let the opposing attack get quality opportunities.  Finally, the 'Cats ripped a couple of shots on goal, but they were saved.  Then, Chelsea Marciniak was fouled and she fired home the free position shot.

Shackleford stopped two more shots after that goal, but Bradshaw broke through again to bring the lead back to three.  However, it was at this point that the comeback started in earnest.  Nicole Dorton had one free position attempt saved, but then was given another.  The second was the charm, as she brought Randolph back within two.

The Knights won the next draw control, but Marciniak forced a turnover.  After peppering the goal with a couple of shots, Shannon McQuaid scored her first-career goal.  SVU answered, but Bradley tallied her second of the game after Dana Cavallo forced a turnover.  Bradshaw then added one more before the break, bringing the score to 7-5 for the Knights.

Shackleford started off strong in the second, stopping two early shots.  Following the first save, she started a break, which saw Bradley feed Dorton.  Dorton ripped it home to cut the margin to one.

Despite the play of the defense, the Knights were able to tally the next two goals.  Then, Teagan Stanley found the back of the net, catching a pass from Libby Exline.  Southern Virginia answered quickly, but Exline helped create another goal for the WildCats.  She hit Dorton who ripped it home, bringing the team within two.

But Bradshaw answered shortly after, extending the lead to three again.  Dorton tried to cut it once again, as she found the back of the net off the pass from Cavallo.  However, the Knights added one more to stop the comeback.

Dorton led the WildCats with four goals.  Bradley had three points with the assist and two goals.  Along with the goal, Stanley had a team high four draw controls and added three ground balls as well.  Taylor Gamble led the team with six pick-ups.  Bradshaw posted a game-high seven goals for the Knights (3-6 overall).

Randolph (1-5) returns home for its next game and will also begin Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play.  The WildCats host crosstown rival Lynchburg College (4-2) on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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