(SALEM, Va.) – Randolph-Macon dropped a tough one Saturday as it took on Roanoke in ODAC action. The Yellow Jackets held onto the lead entering the fourth quarter, but the Maroons turned up the pressure in the final frame to come back for the win.

The Basics

Score: Randolph-Macon 14, Roanoke 18

Venue: Kerr Stadium

Records: Randolph-Macon 6-5, 2-2 ODAC; Roanoke 9-4, 5-1 ODAC

How It Happened

• Roanoke jumped out to a 4-1 lead before the Jackets rallied with a 3-1 run to close the first quarter. Jack Averna (Sr., Warrenton, Va. / Fauquier) started the rally with 9:32 left in the quarter. After the Maroons' final goal in the frame, Andrew Tiffey (Sr., Columbia, Md. / Wilde Lake) and Jamie Smith (Jr., Roanoke, Va. / Patrick Henry) added goals to make the score 5-4.
• The second started out slow with neither team able to find the back of the net until Roanoke scored with 9:41 to go in the half. From there Randolph-Macon caught fire and scored five of the next six goals to take the lead. Brandon Smith (Sr., Richmond, Va. / Douglas Freeman) sparked the outburst with an EMO goal on a helper from Derek Marsilio (Sr., Harrisburg, Pa. / Bishop McDevitt) who tied the game less than a minute later.
• After a Maroons goal, Tiffey, Averna, and Marsilio all added goals to give R-MC a 9-7 lead with 12 seconds left in the half. Roanoke was able to get the last word in of the second quarter however with a quick faceoff win and a goal eight seconds later.
• R-MC kept the pressure on in the third. Taking advantage of another Maroons penalty, Brandon Smith found the back of the net for a 10-8 lead. Goals by Jack Smith (So., Stevensville, Md. / DeMatha), Averna, and Tiffey proceeded to give the Lemon and Black their largest lead at 13-9.
• From there Roanoke went on a massive 8-0 run to take control of the game. R-MC wasn't able to score again until Averna added his fourth of the game, but time ran out on the Yellow Jackets' comeback attempt.

Inside The Numbers

• Jack Averna led the Jackets with six points on four goals and two assists. Tiffey also had four goals and had one assist for five points.
• With his point total, Averna surpassed 100 for his career and now has 104 total on 73 goals and 31 assists.
• Marsilio added five points on two goals and three assists.
• Jack Smith led the team with four ground balls.
• R-MC was nearly perfect on EMO chances with three goals on four chances.
• Noble Canterbury (Fr., Gainsville, Va. / Patriot) was strong in the circle with seven faceoff wins on 15 attempts.
• Sam Averna (Sr., Warrenton, Va. / Fauquier) was between the pipes and made 17 saves on the afternoon.

Up Next

Shenandoah awaits the Yellow Jackets as the two will gather for a midweek affair on Wednesday. Opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m.