FREDERICK, Md. -
Rianna Lowery (Bel Air, Md./Notre Dame Prep) tallies four goals and two assists, leading the Yellow Jackets to a dominant win over Hood to open up the 2025 campaign on Saturday afternoon.
The Basics
Score: Randolph-Macon 16, Hood 7
Venue: Frederick, Md. // Hood College // Thomas Athletic Field
Records: Randolph-Macon (1-0, 0-0 ODAC), Hood (0-1, 0-0 MACC)
How It Happened
- Hood would kick off the season with goals by Julia Gregory Abby Burnette in the first five minutes for the early lead. The Yellow Jackets would respond two minutes later, as Evie McNeally (Severna Park, Md./Archbishop Spalding) scored the first goal for Randolph-Macon this season and cut the deficit to 2-1. The Blazers scored the next two goals and gained early momentum with goals by Gregory and Rachel Harper, taking a 4-1 lead with 5:53 on the clock. The Lemon and Black took control on the field with tough defense and cut the deficit down to 3-2 with a Lowery free position goal that was set by a nice entry pass from Lilly Fowler (Phoenix, Md./Notre Dame Prep). Randolph-Macon won the following draw control and cut the deficit to one goal again with a fast break goal by Anna Snoddy (Palmyra, Va./Fluvanna County) that was assisted by Hailey Pierce (Mechanicsville, Va./Mechanicsville). The final four minutes of the first period would be dominated by Randolph-Macon possessions, the Blazers held tough on defense to end the quarter with 4-3 scoreline.
- The second quarter started with two quick man-up goals by the Yellow Jackets in the first three minutes. Pierce accounted for the first goal and Caty Benton (Richmond, Va./Mills E. Godwin) got her name in the scorebook, as she assisted the Pierce goal and scored a goal of her own. The Randolph-Macon run would continue with a goal by Natalie Moul (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield) to push the lead to 6-4 with 12:08 still left in the quarter. The seventh straight goal by the Lemon and Black came from Evie McNeally, as the senior scored her second goal of the game. Jordyn Schwartz (Reisterstown, Md./St. Paul's) added to the run with the fourth man up goal of the quarter, increasing the lead to 8-4 with 7:19 left on the clock. Lowery and Snoddy both added goals to bring the lead to 10-4 and the Blazers would score at the end of the quarter to set the halftime score to 10-5 at halftime.
- Randolph-Macon continued its dominating play in the third quarter, outscoring Hood 4-0. Lowery led the way with two goals and two more goals were added by Amanda Maxwell (Baltimore, Md./Loch Raven) and Benton. The Lemon and Black also saw great play in-between the pipes by MJ Tucker (Raleigh, N.C./Athens Drive) with three saves to keep the Blazers off the board in the quarter. The Yellow Jackets would grow the lead to 14-5 with fifteen minutes left in the game.
- In the final 15 minutes of the game both teams would score two goals. Kiley Kurcoba (White Marsh, Md./Perry Hall) and Benton accounted for the goals by the Yellow Jackets. The dominance in the final three quarters led to a 16-7 win to open the 2025 season for Randolph-Macon.
By The Numbers
- Randolph-Macon outshot Hood 35-21 in the entire game. The Yellow Jackets also went 20-for-24 on clear attempts.
- The Blazers won the draw control battle with 15 to the Yellow Jackets' 11.
- Randolph-Macon had 22 ground balls, compared to Hood's 17 overall.
- Lowery led the Lemon and Black in goals with four, while adding two assists for six total points. The senior also collected three ground balls and caused a turnover.
- Benton recorded career highs in goals (3), assists (3) and points (6).
- Evie McNeally and Snoddy each scored two goals and had an assist for three points on the afternoon.
- Pierce started her career at Randolph-Macon with a goal and two assists for three points. The freshman also had two draw controls and two ground balls.
- Sydney Walsh (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll) collected four ground balls for the Yellow Jackets. Lydia Lesnevich (Catonsville, Md./Towson) also had a good day on the defensive end with two caused turnovers and a ground ball.
- Gillian Gladden (Taneytown, Md./Francis Scott Key) received the win for the Lemon and Black in goal. The junior recorded two saves, two caused turnovers and two ground balls in the first half.
- Tucker made five saves in the second half for the Yellow Jackets.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets will start a four-game homestand with Mary Washington on Tuesday, February 18 at 7:00 p.m.
