ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – Randolph-Macon traveled to Rocky Mount, N.C., to open its 2026 campaign, taking on the Battling Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan. The Yellow Jackets fell 3-1 in a game that saw four freshman make their first career appearances.
The Basics
Score: N.C. Wesleyan 3, Randolph-Macon 1
Venue: Rocky Mount, N.C. / N.C. Wesleyan University / Scalf Field
Records: Randolph-Macon (0-1-0, 0-0-0 ODAC); N.C. Wesleyan (1-0-0, 0-0-0 USA South)
How it Happened
- The Yellow Jackets started off the game by grabbing the first shot on an attempt by Tyler Oakes (Nottingham, England/Toothill School) in the first five minutes of the match.
- RMC continued to press the attack on offense, maintaining possession through excellent midfield play. Damien Jackson (Newport News, Va./Menchville) threatened to break the game open, but the NCWU keeper shut it down in the 32nd minute.
- In the 42nd minute of play, the Battling Bishops opened the scoring with a goal from Edras Turcios Valle, assisted by Harry Coggins, to take a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
- NCWU came out of the break maintaining possession through the first 20 minutes of play.
- In the 69th minute, Davian Jackson (Newport News, Va./Menchville) sent a shot on frame, during an opportunity created from Barrett Wilson (Lexington, S.C./Lexington) beating the Battling Bishops' keeper to net the equalizing goal.
- NCWU answered the RMC goal in the 72nd minute, stealing the lead from the Yellow Jackets.
- RMC continued to press the attack, but the Battling Bishops found the net once again seven minutes later to take a two-goal lead and close out the match.
Inside the Numbers
- Davian Jackson found the back of the net for the Yellow Jackets' lone goal.
- Andrés Rivas (Bowie, Md./Bowie) contributed two shots in 10 minutes during his first career appearance.
- Oakes led the Yellow Jackets attack with three shots in the season opener.
- Rylan Sumner (Richmond, Va./J.R. Tucker), Joshua Osei (Harrisonburg, Va./Rocktown) and Keanan Kopp (Blacksburg, Va./Blacksburg) made their first college appearance in the match.
- The Yellow Jackets outshot the Battling Bishops 9-to-6 overall and 4-to-3 in shots on goal.
- RMC held the advantage when it came to corner opportunities, recording 10 to the NCWU's two.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will be back in action on Friday, September 4, for their home opener against McDaniel College at 4:00 p.m.
