SALEM, Va. --- Roanoke scored 10-straight goals after being down late in the first half to pull away with a 19-8 win over Randolph-Macon at Kerr Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Maroons finish the regular season with a 14-2 record, including an ODAC-record 7-0 mark in conference play.
Down by two with two minutes left in the second quarter, Roanoke responded with two goals in the final 10-seconds of the first half to tie the contest at 5-5. It was the start of what was 10 unanswered goals by the Maroons as they built a comfortable, 13-5 lead with 6:21 remaining in the third.
The Maroons, now winners of six-straight, outscored the Yellow Jackets, 11-1 in the third quarter and 3-2 in the final 15 minutes to seal the win. It was the 34th win over R-MC, which is the most by any opponent in school-history.
The 14-2 record marks the fifth time over the last six years that Roanoke has won at least 14 games or more. They have a 31-4 mark over the last two seasons, in which only four teams post a better win-percentage.
Roanoke outshot R-MC, 54-28 and won the groundball battle, 58-28. The Maroons were 20-for-30 in face-offs and 20-for-24 in clear attempts.
Jeff Keating (Chatham, NJ, Chatham)led Roanoke with four goals and an assist with four groundballs. Brian Foley (Charlotte, NC, Myers Park)finished with three goals and an assist while Noah Gibby (Terrace Park, OH, Mariemont)added two goals and one assist. Trey Keeley (Lancaster, PA, Conestaga Valley High School)had a goal and two assists followed by Pat March (Glen Burnie, MD, Mt. St. Joseph)with a goal and an assist.
Justin Tuma (Bloomfield Hills, MI, Lahser)had an impressive game for the Maroons, scoring a goal, dishing out two assists, collecting a career-best 12 groundballs and won a season-high 16-of-20 face-offs. Alex Burkhead (Winston-Salem, NC, Forsyth Country Day)scored his first career goal in the third period and collected four groundballs.
Defensively, Sam Love (Berwyn Heights, MD, Dematha), Drew Manley (Severna Park, MD, St. Mary's Annapolis), Stephen Simmons (West Friendship, MD, Mt. St. Joseph)and Richard Lachlan (Port Coquitlam, B.C., Terry Fox Secondary)finished with four groundballs each. Jake Dorsey (Woodbine, MD, Mt. St. Joseph)earned the win in goal, making six saves and collecting five groundballs.
R-MC was led by Patrick Eagan with four goals, followed by Jake Leddy with a goal and two assists. Billy Rowe dished out two assists as Brian Rowe added a goal and an assist. Kris Knopp collected five groundballs. Adam Liberto finished with 13 saves in goal for the Yellow Jackets.
The Maroons will await their next opponent in the ODAC Tournament as they clinched a #1 seed and the regular season ODAC Title. Roanoke receives a first-round bye and will host the conference semifinals on Sunday, May 2.
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