ASHLAND, Va. - Three Yellow Jackets recorded a hat trick as Randolph-Macon women's lacrosse defeated Rhodes College for the first time in program history, 17-14, on Saturday evening to begin their four-game homestand.
The Basics
Score: Randolph-Macon 17, Rhodes College 14
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Randolph-Macon College // Day Field
Records: Randolph-Macon (4-2, 0-0 ODAC); Rhodes College (4-1, 0-0 SAA)
How it Happened
- Senior Lilly Fowler (Phoenix, Md./Notre Dame Prep) got the scoring started for the Yellow Jackets, scoring on a free position shot at the 12:28 mark. Rhodes responded with a free position goal of their own two minutes later. At the 10:00 mark, Fowler found Cami McNeally (Severna Park, Md./Archbishop Spalding) streaking through the middle of the Lynx defense, giving RMC the lead. Rhodes answered with back-to-back goals to take the lead back. With 2:18 left in the first period, Reese Toth (Edgewater, Md./South River) picked up the rebound on Campbell Conway's (Annapolis, Md./St. Mary's) free position shot, and fired a shot past the goalkeeper to knot the game at 3-3. After a RMC turnover, Fowler applied pressure on the Lynx's goalkeeper near the backline, causing a turnover, picking up the ground ball, and scoring on an empty goal, giving the Yellow Jackets a one-point advantage with less than two minutes in the first quarter.
- The Lynx had a free position shot opportunity to tie the game early in the second period, but senior goalie Gillian Gladden (Taneytown, Md./Francis Scott Key) made a textbook five-hole save to keep RMC ahead. At the 11:16 mark, Fowler made her way around the net to score her third goal, completing the hat-trick. A minute later, Hailey Pierce (Mechanicsville, Va./Mechanicsville) made a quick run into the Rhodes third, drawing contact and earning a free position shot. She took advantage of it and put the Yellow Jackets ahead by three. Rhodes answered with a goal of their own at the 8:46 mark. Fowler's fourth goal came on a free position shot with 7:29 to play in the first half. Toth earned a free position shot and found the back of the net a minute later. The Lynx offense pressed hard, earning a free position shot and taking advantage of it with less than 5:00 to play in the first half. With just under 3:00 to play in the half, Fowler brought the ball back into play and connected with Toth running through the middle, assisting on Toth's hat-trick goal.
- Coming out of halftime, Alban Erdle used an assist from Delaney O'Mailey to net a goal for the Lynx, despite being two woman down. Fowler created her fifth goal of the game at the 11:57 mark. With 10:31 on the clock, Toth found a cutting Emma Moxham (Street, Md./Garrison Forest School) to take advantage of a man-up situation. Pierce earned a free position shot and scored with 9:10 to play in the third period. McNeally sliced through the Lynx defense as she was fed a pass from Toth for her second goal of the game, putting the Yellow Jackets ahead by seven. Rhodes answered with two quick goals, making the game 13-8. With 2:54 to play in the third, Conway made her move, cutting through the defense, Fowler dished her a pass, and Conway ripped one past the goalkeeper. Rhodes fired off two more goals late in the third quarter, closing the deficit to four. The Yellow Jackets headed into the fourth quarter with the lead, 14-10.
- The Lynx continued to cut at the Yellow Jackets' lead with a free position goal in a man-down situation five minutes into the final frame. At the 6:24 Mark, Grayson Cornelius (Glenwood, Md./Glenelg High School) netted her first goal of the evening with the help of a McNeally assist. Emma Alex (Dallastown, Pa./Dallastown) tallied a goal with 3:47 to go, taking advantage of a man-up opportunity and putting the Jackets ahead 16-11. With a two-man advantage, Toth found McNeally for her hat-trick goal with 2:54 left. Rhodes added three more goals late in the contest, but the Yellow Jackets would hold on to win, 17-14.
Inside the Numbers
- Fowler led the squad with five goals. The senior filled the stat sheet with three assists, a groundball, and two caused turnovers.
- Toth added six points with three goals and scooped a ground ball.
- McNeally added four points, with three goals.
- Seniors Sydney Walsh (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll) and Laila Omar (Annandale, Va./Falls Church) paced the Yellow Jackets with two ground balls each.
- Pierce had a team-high nine draw controls. The Sophomore also found the back of the net twice on her only two shots.
- The Yellow Jackets outshot Rhodes 28-19 overall and 15-to-12 in shots on goal.
- The Lemon and Black controlled 20 draws compared to the Lynx's 13.
- The Jackets were nearly perfect on clears, going 14-15 (93%) and holding their opponents to 9-13 (69%).
- Alex recorded her first collegiate point and goal in tonight's contest.
For the Record
- Pierce eclipsed 100 career draw controls in today's contest against Rhodes.
- This is the first time these two teams have met in the draw circle.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon continues its four-game homestand with a mid-week matchup against St. Mary's College (Md.). First draw is scheduled for 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 11th.
