Field Hockey Sends Seniors out with 2-1 Victory over Virginia Wesleyan in Home Finale

SALEM --- The 2011 Roanoke Field Hockey senior class was sent out in impressive fashion, topping Virginia Wesleyan, 2-1 in ODAC action Saturday afternoon.  The women improve to 6-10 overall, 4-3 in the ODAC.  The Marlins dropped to 6-7, 4-2 in conference play.

Prior to the start of the match, seniors Abby Bjork, Katie Muhvich, Mary Pace, Cristina Scichilone and Lee Sheldon were recognized.  This season has been a major turnaround for the program.  After starting the year 0-5, the Maroons have rallied to win six of the last 11 contests.  The latest two have come against Washington and Lee (last win was in 2004) and today against the Marlins, who entered today as the #2 team in the league standings.

The Maroons, who have the most overall (6) and ODAC (4) victories since 2004, clinched a berth in the ODAC Tournament for the first time since 2008.  They improve to 14-7 against the Marlins and have won three of the last five meetings.

Julienne Brown got the scoring underway in the sixth-minute of action off an assist from Lianna Hachborn to take the early lead.  It was her first goal of the season and Hachborn's third assist this fall.

Nearly 16 minutes later, Hachborn went 20 yards with impressive stick work shaking past defenders and sent a shot that sailed to the right side of the cage to give the Maroons a commanding 2-0 halftime advantage.  It tied a team-best sixth goal of the year to give her 15 points on the season, which also ties Mariel Hunt for the most on the squad.

The Marlins came out firing in the second half determined to jump back into the contest.  They outshot the Maroons, 9-3 in the second stanza, and scored with no time left in regulation off a corner, but it wasn't enough as the Maroons secured their spot in the post-season.
Scichilone finished with seven saves in goal for Roanoke, while Muhvivh contributed two in the final four minutes in relief.

Amelia Goebel scored the only goal with two shots on goal for VWC, followed by Allie Lanna, who added four shots on goal.  Sheldon led RC with three shots, two on goal.

The women will travel to Harrisonburg, VA to take on Eastern Mennonite in their regular season-finale on Thursday, Oct. 27.  The Maroons defeated the Royals in pre-season play but EMU holds a 42-8-2 series advantage, winning the last eight meetings.  The last regular season victory over EMU came during the 1988 season.  The last overall win came in the 2002 ODAC Tournament as the Maroons captured their only ODAC Championship.  Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.