Hokie ClubDAVIDSON, N.C. – Senior Rachel Culp set a career high with seven goals and the Virginia Tech women’s lacrosse team won its third straight match, defeating Davidson 20-5 in a non-conference contest played at Smith Field on Tuesday evening.
The Hokies have now won three consecutive matches for the first time since the 2007 season and improve their record to 3-4 overall (0-1 ACC). Davidson falls to 4-2 on the year with the loss.
Culp (Sr., Kent, Ohio) got off to a hot start, tallying four of the Hokies’ first five goals as Tech jumped out to the early 6-1 advantage and never looked back. Davidson scored two goals before halftime, but Tech took a 9-3 lead into the intermission after the Hokies controlled the opening period, winning nine draw controls to four by Davidson and out-shooting the Wildcats 25-9.
The Virginia Tech attack did not slow down as the Hokies recorded five unanswered goals, two from Culp, to begin the second frame. A tenacious Tech defense limited the Wildcats’ scoring opportunities and Davidson scored its first goal of the second half with 13:48 remaining.
Another 5-0 Tech run pushed the score to 19-4 before the two teams traded goals to end the match with the 20-5 final score.
The Hokies put together arguably their most complete game of the season, out-shooting the Wildcats 45-13, while also leading Davidson in groundballs (23-16) and draw controls (17-10).
Culp led all scorers with nine points on seven goals and two assists. The Kent, Ohio, native is the first Hokie to score seven goals in a single match since Kellyn Hentz tallied seven scores against Ohio on Apr. 4, 2006.
Allie Emala (So., Baltimore, Md.) also had a strong game for Tech, scoring four goals and dishing out an assist. In addition, Ryan Rotanz (Fr., Salem, Va.) notched three goals, while Shannon Bone (Fr., Pylesville, Md.) scored the first two goals of her career in the match. Jessica Nonn (Fr., Catonsville, Md.) with two goals, and Dylan Garner (So., Cornelius, N.C.) and Morgan Widlake (Fr., Catonsville, Md.) with one goal apiece rounded out the Tech attack.
In net, Kari Morrison (Sr., Springfield, Va.) started and made five saves in the victory.
Tech will return home for its next match against ACC foe Boston College, scheduled for Saturday, March 14, at noon.