Box Score In an important ODAC matchup in Ashland which was full of shots, the field hockey women came up just short in a surprisingly low-scoring 2-1 contest to Randolph-Macon. The decision leaves a four-way tie for second place in the ODAC standings.
Eastern Mennonite had an 8-5 edge in shots over the first 35 minutes, even though the Yellow Jackets had a 9-1 advantage in corners. Neither team managed to dent the cage, however, as the game went into halftime scoreless.
R-MC was the first team to score, getting a goal from Lauren Seal in the 48th minute. Nine minutes later Mikalea Rumley redirected a shot after a corner, putting the Yellow Jackets up 2-0.
The Lady Royals couldn't trim the lead until the closing minute, when Nicole Bencsik (Telford, PA/Souderton) put a goal through the goalie's legs. That would be it, as EMU took its first conference loss.
The Yellow Jackets had a 14-5 edge in shots in the second and 19-13 for the game. Many of the shots were on goal as well, 14-11 in favor of the home team.
Mary Beth Danaher (Matoaca, VA/Matoaca) had her second double-digit save effort of the season as she racked up 12 stops.
Michelle Zook (Allenville, PA/Belleville Mennonite) and Camille Williams (Media, PA/Delaware County Christian) each had three shots on goal for EMU. Midfielder Adriana Santiago (Souderton, PA/Christopher Dock), tied for second on the team with five goals, missed the game with an injury.
The loss drops Eastern Mennonite to 6-6 overall and 2-1 in the ODAC. The women are now tied with R-MC, Virginia Wesleyan and Roanoke for second in the league. Lynchburg leads with a 4-0 mark.
The Lady Royals return home Saturday afternoon when they host Sweet Briar at 1:00pm.
