For Immediate Release April 13, 1999
Roanoke Edges Washington & Lee, 6-5
Kelaher Nets Game-Winner With 2:14 To Go
SALEM, Va.--An Amy Kelaher (Setauket, NY/Ward Melville) goal with 2:14 left and a Debbie Apazidis (New Canaan, CT/New Canaan) save with just 20 seconds remaining propelled the Roanoke College women’s lacrosse team to a 6-5 victory over the Washington & Lee Generals on Tuesday afternoon in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference tilt. With the win the Maroons go to 10-3 on the season and 6-0 in the ODAC, while the Generals fall to 4-7, 4-2. This is the sixth consecutive season that Roanoke has reached the 10-win plateau, and the 12th time in the past 13 years. With the game tied at five with just over two minutes left, Kelaher rushed the net from the top of the circle and fired shot that found space between the Washington & Lee goaltender’s legs. The goal was Kelaher’s eighth on the season. Roanoke won the ensuing draw, but proceeded to quickly turn the ball over, setting up Apazidis’ dramatic save.
Washington & Lee controlled the ball for the next two minutes, and with just 20 seconds left in the contest, a Roanoke defender was called for a foul, giving W&L a free position attempt on goal. Apazidis was up to the challenge as she stopped the shot with just 18 ticks left on the game clock. The Maroons were able to run the clock down from there and grab their 10th win of the season. Washington & Lee opened the scoring in the game, with 24:24 left in the first, on a goal from Liz Borges. The General defense was able to hold RC at bay until the 16:25 mark, when Laurin Troup (Parkton, MD/Hereford) snuck out from behind the cage and got a shot past the W&L goaltender. The Maroons proceeded to take the lead, as the Lindsay Wernert (Greenwich, CT/Greenwich) to Ellie Page (Savannah, GA/Berkshire) combination struck for the first of two goals in the game. The Generals closed out the frame with two consecutive goals, both coming with less then four minutes to go, to take a 3-2 intermission lead.
Roanoke came out on a mission in the first five minutes of the second half, scoring three straight goals to take a 5-3 advantage. For the second time in the contest Wernert, from behind the net, found a cutting Page who then ripped a shot into the net. Leslie Hunt (Baltimore, MD/Towson) then scored two goals to give RC the two-goal cushion. Washington & Lee answered Hunt’s second goal with one of its own to make the score 5-4. The two teams then went through an almost 20-minute scoreless drought which saw some fantastic goaltending and defensive play. W&L’s Jernigan finished the game with 13 saves, most coming in the second half, while Apazidis stopped eight General shots on the day. The game was tied at five thanks to Ellen Ritsch’s second goal of the afternoon. The tally, with 5:35 left, set the stage for Kelaher’s and Apazidis’ game-winning and saving plays.
This is the first time since the 1997 season that Roanoke has beaten the Generals after getting swept in two last year. The win also gives RC a 12-6 all-time advantage in the series. Of the 18 games that have been played between the rivals, eight have been decided by just one goal. Today’s victory was just Roanoke’s third in those contests.
Roanoke will finish out its regular season schedule with two more games this week, before heading into the ODAC tournament next weekend (April 21, 24-25). The Maroons host Hollins University this Thursday and Virginia Wesleyan this upcoming Saturday.
Washington & Lee (4-7, 4-2) 3 2- 5
#12 Roanoke (10-3, 6-0) 2 4- 6Goals: W&L - Ritsch 2, Francis, Riddle, Borges. RC - Page 2, Hunt 2, Kelaher, Troup.
Assists: W&L - Priest. RC - L. Wernert 2.Saves: W&L - Jernigan 13. RC - Apazidis 8.
Shots: W&L 17, RC 32.
Groundballs: W&L - 21, RC 32.
Draws: W&L - 8, RC 5.