VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Women's Lax closed out the regular season with a dominant showing in Virginia Beach, Virginia, during a midweek matchup with Virginia Wesleyan to close out regular season play and earn the #2 seed in the ODAC tournament.
The Basics
Score: Randolph-Macon 17, Virginia Wesleyan 3
Venue: Virginia Beach, Va. // Virginia Wesleyan University // Birdsong Field
Records: Randolph-Macon (12-5, 6-2 ODAC); Virginia Wesleyan (9-7, 4-4 ODAC)
How it Happened
- Five minutes into the start of the game, Elaina Creekmore (Pasadena, Md./Old Mill) fed Cami McNeally (Severna Park, Md./Archbishop Spalding), giving the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets' defense forced a shot-clock violation by VWU and forced a turnover in between goals. At the 4:13 mark, Lilly Fowler (Phoenix, Md./Notre Dame Prep) doubled the Yellow Jackets' lead and carried the 2-0 lead into the second quarter after the Marlins only took one more shot.
- In the second quarter, the Yellow Jackets poured in the goals. Fowler threaded a pass to Reese Toth (Edgewater, Md./South River) two minutes into the second frame. Fowler rattled off back-to-back goals to extend the lead to 5-0. At 10:07 on the clock, McNeally fed Caty Benton (Richmond, Va./Mills E. Godwin) for her first goal of the night. Two minutes later, Toth connected with Hailey Pierce (Mechanicsville, Va./Mechanicsville) to put the Yellow Jackets ahead by seven. Fowler found the back of the net for the fourth time in the contest one minute later. At the 3:20 mark, Brooklynn Ricker (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) got herself on the score sheet on a pass from Benton to extend the lead to nine. With 1:26 left in the first half, the Marlins found the back of the net on a shot from Reese Morgenthaler to put themselves on the scoreboard. The Lemon and Black carried the 9-1 lead into the break.
- Coming out of the break, VWU added its second goal at 13:41 on the clock on a shot from Kenna Duplechin. Three minutes later, McNeally tallied her second goal of the night, assisted by Pierce, to make the score 10-2. For the next six minutes, both teams went back and forth, making great defensive plays and forcing turnovers. At the 4:41 mark, Duplechin added another goal to the evening and cut the deficit to seven goals. Three minutes later, Fowler added her fifth goal of the night, pushing the score to 11-3 heading into the final frame of regulation.
- Campbell Conway (Annapolis, Md./St. Mary's) started the scoring in the final 15 minutes of regulation after the Yellow Jackets forced a turnover on a shot-clock violation. At the 11:25 mark, Paige Citro (Ellicott City, Md./Marriotts Ridge) dished a pass to Toth, who buried the shot to lift the Yellow Jackets ahead 13-3. Three minutes later, Conway socred the next two goals, extending the lead to 12. Ricker cashed in on a power-play opportunity with 4:01 left to play, making the score 16-3. Three minutes later, Jocelyn Tran (Fairfax Station, Va./South County) added the final goal of the game on a free-position shot, giving the Yellow Jackets a 17-3 win over the Marlins.
Inside the Numbers
- Fowler led the Yellow Jackets' offense with six points overall on five goals and one assist. She also picked up three ground balls, caused one turnover and added a draw control.
- Toth followed up Fowler with a five-point night on three assists and two goals.
- Conway and McNeally each tallied three points against the Marlins. McNeally recorded two goals and one assist, while Conway found the back of the net three times.
- Ricker, Benton and Pierce each recorded two points in the contest. Ricker scored two goals, while Benton and Pierce tallied a goal and an assist on their stat line.
- The Yellow Jackets outshot the Marlins 37-10 overall and 24 to 7 in shots on goal.
- In transition, RMC went a perfect 20-20, while VWU went 15-17 for a clear percentage of .882.
- Virginia Welseyan held a slight edge in ground balls, scooping up 19 to Randolph-Macon's 17.
- Benton and Laila Omar (Annandale, Va./Falls Church) each picked up two ground balls tonight.
- Pierce led the Yellow Jackets in the draw circle, earning seven of the Yellow Jackets' 14 draw controls.
- Libba Erskine (Fairfield, Va./Rockbridge County) caused two turnovers and recorded a ground ball.
- Gillian Gladden (Taneytown, Md./Francis Scott Key) played 30 minutes, making four saves and allowing only one goal.
For the Record
- Pierce moves into fourth place for draw controls in a season with 87.
- Emma Moxham (Street, Md./Garrison Forest School) is two draw controls behind Hannah Jones (2016-19) for fourth place all-time.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon women's lacrosse will host an ODAC Semifinal match on Friday, May 1, against the winner of the Quarterfinal matchup between Roanoke and Virginia Wesleyan or Bridgewater.
