SALEM, Va. --- Roanoke fell to #16 SUNY-Cortland, 18-12 at Kerr Stadium on Friday afternoon. The Maroons fell to 2-4 on the season, while the Red Dragons improved to 2-0.

Cortland outshot Roanoke, 36-21, and held a commanding 22-10 advantage in draw controls, including 15-5 in the second half. The Red Dragons, who are now 2-0 against the Maroons, had a slight 21-18 edge in groundballs.

On a sunny afternoon, both teams went back and forth in the first 12 minutes of action. Carolyn Miller (Clinton, MD, St. Mary's Ryken)and Gina Valles (South Windsor, CT, Westminster )scored two goals apiece to lead the Maroons attack. Miller's goal with 18:05 remaining in the first half made it 5-4, Cortland.

The Red Dragons scored four unanswered goals to give them a five-goal advantage just two minutes into the second stanza. Paige Mason (Orangeville, Ontario, Canada, Orangeville), Valles and Alysa Greer (New Windson, MD, Francis Scott Key)goals capped a 3-1 mini-run to close to within three, 10-7 with 20 minutes left. Greer's goals was her first of the season.

But the comeback stalled, as Cortland scored eight of the next nine goals to push its lead to 18-8 with 8:52 to go to pull away. Roanoke didn't stop fighting, scoring the final four goals of the contest over the final four minutes of play.

Valles finished with four goals and four caused turnovers to lead Roanoke. Mason added three goals, three groundballs and three caused turnovers followed by Miller with two goals on the day.

Kelly Radigan led Cortland with five goals and two assists on the afternoon. Lindsay Abbott had three goals and two assists with four draw controls. Nicki Mahoney followed with three goals and an assist. Maria Di Fato finished with a goal, two assists and caused a game-best six turnovers.

Laura Zdziarski (Gainesville, FL, Buchholz)and Casey Esloon (Kingwood, TX, Kingwood)each finished with five saves for Roanoke. Ally Levy had eight stops for Cortland.

The women return to action next Saturday, March 27 in Washington D.C. as they play against Colorado College on the Campus of Catholic University. It will be the Maroons are 1-1 against their next opponent, and are 1-1 at neutral sites this season. Game time is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

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