The Basics – ODAC Semifinals
Score: #2 Roanoke 23 | #3 Shenandoah 16
Records: Maroons 9-3 / 5-1 ODAC | Hornets 7-7 / 5-2 ODAC
Location: Salem, Va.
The Lead: With a berth in the 2021 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Championship game on the line, Roanoke played host to Shenandoah on Friday evening. The Hornets would lead for much of the first half and a late score gave Shenandoah a 10-9 lead at the break. The Maroons would score a pair of quick goals to take their first lead of the game, but the Hornets would net the equalizer to make it 11-11. Eight unanswered Roanoke scores would allow the Maroons to pull away and punch their ticket to the finals with a 23-16 win.
How it Happened:
- Trailing 3-0, Emerson Foster got the Maroons on the board.
- After two more Hornet scores, Lilly Blair and Foster were able to get Roanoke back in the matchup, 5-3.
- Three straight scores by the visitors and the lead was 8-4 with 10 minutes on the clock.
- Ellie Armstrong scored an unassisted goal and Molly Kasemeyer converted a free position to spark a Roanoke rally that would see the score tied, 9-9, with one minute to go. Shenandoah was able to retake the lead with a late first half score and took a one goal lead into the break.
- Maddie Stopkoski scored to tie it up in the first minute and Blair would give Roanoke her first lead of the evening.
- The Hornets would tie the score at 11-11 before Roanoke went on a big run to seize control.
- Foster scored four with Blair and Armstrong adding two each in an 8-0 run that would put the game away.
- Foster and Blair each scored eight goals with Armstrong adding five to lead the Roanoke offense. Riley Chase recorded four of Roanoke's eight assists while Kasemeyer hand out two. Roanoke picked up 29 ground balls and caused 15 Shenandoah turnovers.
- Carly Schoudel registered six saves on her way to her eighth win of the season.
Up Next: Roanoke will travel to Lexington on Sunday to face Washington and Lee for the 2021 Women's Lacrosse Championship. The Generals (2nd) and the Maroons (25th) both carry a national ranking into the championship game.
