(ASHLAND, Va.) – The postseason begins today as Randolph-Macon hosts Bridgewater in women's lacrosse action from Nunnally Field. The Yellow Jackets are no strangers to the playoffs as they have made the postseason every year since 1993. The Eagles are making their first appearance in the ODAC Tournament since 2018.
The Basics
Time: 7 p.m.
Venue: Nunnally Field
Records: Randolph-Macon 7-10, Bridgewater 6-11
Series Record: Randolph-Macon 34, Bridgewater 0 (Since 1993)
Last Meeting: Randolph-Macon 19, Bridgewater 9 – Saturday, April 2, at Bridgewater
Lily Henderson (Sr., Manakin-Sabot, Va. / St. Catherine's) excelled and led a balanced attack with six goals in the first meeting between the two teams exactly a month ago today. Rianna Lowery (Fr., Bel Air, Md. / Notre Dame Prep), Kayla Ross (Jr., Gambrills, Md. / Arundel), and Annie Bartley (So., Richmond, Va. / Mills Godwin) all recorded hat tricks as well. The Eagles were paced by Kaity Petersheim who scored three times.
Last Time Out: Randolph-Macon 6, Roanoke 16 – Saturday, April 30, at Nunnally Field
Bartley found the back of the net for three goals, but Roanoke otherwise had a tight defensive lockdown on the Jackets' offense. Despite the loss, goalkeeper Caraline Cypher (Sr., Havre de Grace, Md. / Havre de Grace) had a big game with 15 saves, nine in the first half, thanks to some athletic and acrobatic plays.
Bridgewater 5, No.5 Washington & Lee 18
The Eagles hosted one of the top teams in the nation, but an upset wasn't in the works as the Generals jumped out to a 13-2 lead at the half. Petersheim and Annika Benson led the Bridgewater attack with two goals apiece.
Inside The Numbers
- Randolph-Macon is no stranger to the postseason and has a playoff win in each of the last eight seasons. This includes five consecutive trips to the ODAC Tournament championship game.
- These teams have met in the playoffs thrice before with Randolph-Macon taking a narrow 11-8 victory over the Eagles back in 1996, a 17-1 victory in 1994, and a 13-12 triumph in 1993.
- Bartley has had an incredible season and is second in the ODAC with 50 goals. She's fourth in the conference with 63 points, while Lowery is right behind her in fifth with 61.
- Bartley has been strong on free-position attempts and has made 66.7% of her shots from the eight-meter mark, No. 34 in the nation and No. 2 in the ODAC.
- Cypher has done well between the pipes and is fifth in the conference with 122 saves. Bridgewater's Rachael Robinson has also excelled this season and is second with 167 saves.
- Bridgewater's Aunnie Hacker is fifth in the ODAC with 21 assists.
- Randolph-Macon has won 15.88 draw controls per game to place them in the top 50 nationally and No. 2 in the ODAC.
2022 ODAC WOMEN'S LACROSSE TOURNAMENT
First Round | Monday, May 2
Game 1: #7 Bridgewater at #6 Randolph-Macon -- 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals | Wednesday, May 4
Game 2: #5 Virginia Wesleyan at #4 Lynchburg -- TBA
Game 3: Winner Game 1 at #3 Shenandoah -- TBA
Semifinals | Saturday, May 7 at Washington and Lee
Game 4: Winner Game 2 at #1 Washington and Lee -- TBA
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. #2 Roanoke -- TBA
Championship | Sunday, May 8 at Washington and Lee
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 -- TBA
