LYNCHBURG, Va.- It was Senior Night for the Randolph men's soccer team as they honored nine players on Saturday night at WIldCat Stadium. In the final regular season home game, the seniors went out on a high note as the 'Cats shutout Bridgewater 2-0.
The win capped off a 2-0 conference week for Randolph. The WildCats also broke a tie with the Eagles in the ODAC standings as Randolph now sits in sixth place.
While Randolph held a 12-11 lead in shots and both teams had six shots on goal, the WildCat defense was a brick wall for the Eagles as Bridgewater was held off the score board. The six shots on frame that BC did get off, WildCat goalkeeper Erick Cortez-Martinez (Winston-Salem. N.C./North Forsyth) was there to deny each opportunity.
The game seemed destined to go to the break scoreless. With just under three minutes remaining until halftime, Evan Blow (Charlottesville, Va./Charlottesville) fired a shot from the far left side to the opposite side of the net and in to give Randolph the 1-0 advantage at the half.
The WildCats held on to their 1-0 lead for the majority of the second half as the Eagles couldn't find the equalizing goal. In the 71st minute, the WildCats gave themselves a bit of a cushion as Gabe Krueger (Jacksonville, N.C./White Oak) struck for his team-leading 10th goal of the season to put Randolph ahead 2-0.
Cortez-Martinez made a spectacular save with just under three minutes remaining in regulation as he leapt to deny Bridgewater's Luke Lowry a scoring opportunity. Cortez-Martinez finished with six saves on the night.
Randolph improves to 9-6-1 overall and 4-3 in the ODAC. Bridgewater falls to 5-10-1 overall and 3-4 in the conference.
The WildCats wrap up the regular season on Tuesday at first-place Hampden-Sydney. Game time will be at 7:00 p.m.
