LYNCHBURG, Va.- The Randolph women's lacrosse team hosted Guilford in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference game on Wednesday night at WildCat Stadium. Sophia Cirone's (Stuart, Fla./South Fork) goal with 1:36 remaining was the game winner as the 'Cats defeated the Quakers 18-17.
The win was the first for Randolph over Guilford since the women's lacrosse program was restarted in 2010. This was the 11th meeting between the two schools in a series that goes back to 2011.
Randolph's overall record is now 3-5 overall and 1-2 in the ODAC. Guilford falls to 4-8 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
The Quakers got on the board first with a goal 37 seconds into the first quarter. The WildCats would even it up on Cirone's unassisted score at 13:47. GC tacked on two more scores to take a 3-1 lead. Randolph rattled off four straight goals to take a 5-3 lead with 49 seconds left in the first period.
Olivia Richards' (Limestone, Tenn./Pinecrest) free position score 23 seconds into the second quarter gave Randolph a 6-3 advantage. After the Quakers narrowed it to 6-4, goals by Maddie Friel (Suffolk, Va./Nansemond River), Cirone, and Beverly Alcock (Purcellville, Va.) upped the WildCat advantage to 9-4 with 9:10 remaining in the period. Both teams exchanged possessions for the next eight minutes of game time. Alcock would break the drought with a solo score with 1:33 remaining in the quarter as Randolph led 10-4 at halftime.
Guilford mounted a rally in the third quarter as it outscored Randolph 5-2. The WildCats led 12-9 at the conclusion of the period.
The WildCats looked to separate themselves from the Quakers as they scored on three straight occasions to go up 15-9. GC ripped off a 4-0 run to close the score to 15-13 with 8:35 remaining in regulation. Randolph led 17-14 with 5:51 showing on the game clock. Guilford tallied three goals to tie the game up at 17-all with three minutes remaining. Randolph won the ensuing draw control and then had a pair of free position attempts 10 seconds apart. On the second attempt, Cirone was able to get a shot of into the back of the net with 1:36 remaining to put Randolph ahead. The WildCats won the draw control but Cirone turned the ball over. Guilford picked up the groundball but ran out of time as the WildCats walked away with the victory.
Guilford led in total shots 37-35 while Randolph led in shots on goal 31-26. The WildCats picked up 21 groundballs to the Quakers' 17. The 'Cats scored a season-high 10 free position goal.
Cirone had a career-best eight goals for Randolph. She won nine draw controls, caused five turnovers, and picked up four groundballs. Richards added five goals and an assist while winning five draws. Alcock scored three times and won five draws. Friel and Nancy Alcock (Purcellville, Va.) both scored once.
Yanessa Cabrera (Manassas, Va./Stonewall Jackson) caused four turnovers and picked up three groundballs. Taylor Batty (Hampton, Va./Kecoughtan) stopped nine shots in goal and also scooped up three groundballs.
Randolph travels to Bridgewater on Friday. Game time will be at 12:00 p.m.
