The Basics
Score: No. 16 Roanoke 12, Shenandoah 5
Records: Maroons 15-2; Hornets 12-7
Location: Salem, Va.

The Lead: The No. 16 Roanoke women's lacrosse team used a strong start and held strong for a 12-5 win over Shenandoah in the semifinals of the 2023 ODAC Tournament. 

How it Happened/Highlights:

• It was a beginning that the Maroons were looking for in their semifinal match up. The Maroons scored the first five goals of the game with Lilly Blair (11:06) and Libby Bowman (9:49) each scoring while Grace Koutouzis scoring a hat trick in her return with goals at 10:25, 5:57, and a woman-up, free position goal at :51. The Hornets were able to get on the scoreboard with 10 seconds left to cute the Maroon lead down to four.
• Blair and Bowman each added to the Roanoke total in the second period with goals at 13:52 and :31, respectively. A woman-up goal for Shenandoah at 10:23 made sure the Maroons only led by five at 7-2 at halftime. 
• Both teams scored twice in the third quarter with SU scoring first and the Maroons responding with back-to-back goals less than a minute apart by Koutouzis and Bowman at 7:53 and 7:07. 
• With Roanoke leading by five going into the final quarter, the Hornets cut the lead down to four just over a minute into the period before a trio of unanswered goals by Blair (2x) and Bowman put the Maroons ahead by seven with three minutes left. The defense played it strong to close out and help the Maroons advance to their third straight ODAC Championship game.
• All 12 goals were scored by Koutouzis, Blair, and Bowman with Tiernan Connor and Bowman on assists. 
• The defense was strong for the Maroons, holding the Shenandoah's ODAC leader in points and assists to just a single assist while also forcing 12 cause turnovers on the Hornets. 
• Natalie Mason was the defensive leader for Roanoke with four caused turnovers and four ground balls.
• Kyleigh Chickering got the win in the crease playing all 60 minutes and making 10 saves.

Up Next: With the win, the Maroons advance to Sunday's ODAC Championship game against Washington and Lee in Lexington. Game time with the Generals is scheduled for 1 p.m.