WINCHESTER, Va. - Women's Lax traveled to Winchester, Virginia, on Friday afternoon for an ODAC bout with Shenandoah, where they fell 9-6.
The Basics
Score: Shenandoah 9, Randolph-Macon 6
Venue: Winchester, Va. // Shenandoah University // Glo Fiber Field at Shentel Stadium
Records: Randolph-Macon (8-4, 2-2 ODAC); Shenandoah (9-4, 4-0 ODAC)
How it Happened
- In the opening six minutes of the game, both teams held each other scoreless through great defense. At the 9:03 mark, Lilly Fowler (Phoenix, Md./Notre Dame Prep) opened the scoring for the game after scooping up a ground ball and rifling a shot into the back of the net. Senior goalie Gillian Gladden (Taneytown, Md./Francis Scott Key) made three key saves the rest of the quarter to keep the Yellow Jackets in the lead. The Lemon and Black continued to maintain the lead with caused turnovers from Laila Omar (Annandale, Va./Falls Church), Meredith Missana (Charlottesville, Va./Albemarle) and Lydia Lesnevich (Catonsville, Md./Towson) to close out the first quarter with a 1-0 lead.
- One minute into the start of the second quarter, Alyssa Webster, assisted by Ayla Jantz, capitalized on a power-play opportunity, sparking a four-goal run for the Hornets. Ayla Jantz accounted for two of the Hornets' four goals, making the score 4-1. At the 3:15 mark, Reese Toth (Edgewater, Md./South River) connected with Hailey Pierce (Mechanicsville, Va/ Mechanicsville) to shut down Shenandoah's run. With just under two minutes on the clock, the Hornets buried another goal to extend the lead back to three goals. In the final minute of play in the first half, Toth buried a shot to cut the deficit to just two goals with 23 seconds remaining, making the score 5-3.
- Coming out of the break, RMC continued the offensive momentum. At the 13:17 mark, Emma Moxham (Street, Md./Garrison Forest School) caused a turnover, which Toth swooped in and picked up the ground ball, then Cami McNeally (Severna Park, Md./Archbishop Spalding) sliced her way through the defense, netting a goal to cut the Hornets' lead to one goal. One minute later, Shenandoah extended its lead once again to two. At the 6:04 mark of the third quarter, Jantz capitalized on the power play once again, pushing the score to 7-4 in favor of the Hornets. The Yellow Jackets answered the back-to-back goals with a power-play goal of their own from Brooklynn Ricker (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis), assisted by McNeally, with 3:48 left to play in the third frame. In the last minute of the quarter, the Lemon and Black maintained possession to keep the ball at the start of the final frame.
- One minute into the start of the final quarter of regulation, Fowler sent a feed to McNeally, who tallied her second goal of the game to put the Yellow Jackets within one. Over the next seven minutes, RMC played excellently defensively, with Gladden making two saves and the defense forcing the Hornets to turn the ball over. Jantz broke through the RMC defense and scored the eighth goal for Shenandoah at the 7:53 mark. The Yellow Jackets had offensive chances to try and level the game. However, four minutes later, SU found the back of the net once more to push the score to 9-6 and put the game out of reach for the Yellow Jackets.
Inside the Numbers
- McNeally led the Yellow Jackets' offense with three points overall on two goals and one assist.
- Toth and Fowler each recorded two points overall, one goal and one assist.
- Pierce and Ricker each recorded a goal in today's contest.
- The Hornets outshot the Yellow Jackets 24-18 overall. Shenandoah held a slight edge over Randolph-Macon in shots on goal, 14-to-12.
- In transition, the Hornets held a slight edge, going 16-19 (84.2%) while the Yellow Jackets went 14-17 (82.3%).
- RMC won the battle in the circle, winning 11 draw controls while SU won six. Elaina Creekmore (Pasadena, Md./Old Mill) won four of the Yellow Jackets' 11 draw controls.
- Lesnevich caused two turnovers in today's contest. Moxham, Toth, Missana, Omar and Conway each recorded a caused turnover.
- Gladden and Missana each recorded two ground balls against the Hornets.
For the Record
- Fowler has now passed Alison Smith (1993-96) in the record book with 110 career assists, making her fourth all-time. Fowler is also five points away from tying Rianna Lowery (2022-25) in career points.
Up Next
Women's Lacrosse returns home to Day Field on Wednesday, April 8, when they will take on Sweet Briar for its Green Bandana Game with the first draw scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
