BREVARD, N.C.- The Randolph women's lacrosse team began its 2023 season on the road on Sunday as they faced Brevard. The WildCats held a lead early in the fourth period but the Tornados rallied to overtake the 'Cats and won 18-17.

Randolph got on the board 48 seconds into the first quarter. A yellow card on Brevard put the WildCats in a man-up situation. Sophia Cirone (Stuart, Fla./South Fork HS) scored on the free position attempt to give the 'Cats a 1-0 lead.

Brevard scored three consecutive times to go ahead 3-1 with under 12 minutes remaining in the quarter. Randolph scored twice to tie and the lead changed hands twice until Brevard got ahead 7-4 at the end of the period.

Trailing 10-6 with 6:31 left in the second quarter, Randolph rallied with four straight goals to tie the contest at 10-10 with 3:46 showing on the game clock. The Tornados grabbed the lead back to go ahead 12-10 but the WildCats tallied a pair of scores to tie the game at 12-12 at halftime.

Olivia Richards' (Limestone, Tenn./Pinecrest) goal to start the third quarter gave the WildCats the lead until Brevard responded less than a minute later to tie. Randolph took the lead back on a man-up goal by Maddie Friel (Suffolk, Va./Nansemond River) at 9:28 and Brevard tied at 7:52. Randolph got the lead back at 7:31 and scored twice more to go up 17-14.

Beverly Alcock's (Purcellville, Va.) goal at the 13:36 mark of the fourth quarter put Randolph ahead 18-15. Brevard would go on to tie the game up at 18-18 with 4:25 left and then took the lead for good on a free position shot with 1:28 remaining. Randolph had three shots in the final minutes including one on goal but could not get the equalizer as Brevard held on for the win.

Randolph led in total shots 40-38 and groundballs 28-18. The WildCats scored on all five of their extra man opportunities.

Alcock led in scoring with six goals. Cirone scored five times and assisted on two other goals for a seven-point afternoon. Logan Warren (Chesterfield, Va./Steward School) had four goals in her first collegiate game. Richards scored twice. Friel had one goal.

Taylor Batty (Hampton, Va./Kecoughtan) had 14 saves in the cage for the WildCats.

Randolph travels to Sweet Briar on Wednesday. Game time is at 3:00 p.m.