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	1	2	F
(1) Maryland (15-0)	11	5	16
Virginia Tech (10-7)	2	6	8
Rector Field House - 87 Box Score Photo Gallery

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Despite a dominant second-half effort, the Virginia Tech lacrosse team fell to No. 1 Maryland, 16-8, on Senior Day Saturday afternoon. Due to poor weather conditions the game was moved and played indoors at Rector Fieldhouse on the Virginia Tech campus instead of the team’s usual venue, Thompson Field.

In true senior day fashion, Allie Emala and Caitlyn Wier paced the Tech (10-7, 1-4 ACC) offense in their final home game as Emala tallied three scores and Wier had two assists. Danielle Kirk and Sarah Mollison led the Terrapins (15-0, 5-0 ACC) with three scores apiece.

The game began with both teams trading goals in the opening minutes as Laura Merrifield buried a pass from Brandi Jones in the first minute of the game for Terps, and Emala and Wier teamed up to put Tech on the board shortly after.

The even scored did not sit well with Maryland and the team responded immediately. Kristy Black sparked an offensive explosion that saw the Terps score a whopping 10 straight goals to nearly closeout the half.

With 41 seconds to go before the halftime break, junior Jessica Nonn broke through the Maryland defense and was able to hold onto the ball until she got close enough to slip it into the bottom of the goal to end the dominant run.

Maryland regained the 10-goal difference it lost in the closing seconds of the first half after Kirk put away a free-position shot five minutes into the new period.

The Terps tacked on another goal just under a minute later, but a good free-position shot by Nonn soon after the goal lit a fire under the Hokies and began what would be a four-goal streak.

Junior Ryan Rotanz capped off the 10-minute scoring spree when she found a loose rebound from a blocked shot by Emala and put it away to make it 13-6, Terps.

Two free-position shots by Maryland with under nine minutes remaining in the game would end the Hokie run and allow the Terps to extend their lead.

The Hokies would not back down, though. Just inside the five-minute mark, Wier put away her only goal of the day when she came from behind the goal and zipped a speeding shot past Maryland’s goalie from the opposite side of the field.

With time winding down, the difference was too much for the Hokies to overcome, but in the closing seconds of the game Wier and Emala teamed up one last time on a play they have executed time and time again. Located behind the cage, Wier hit a cutting Emala as she came across the face of the goal and flicked in a quick shot.

After being outshot in the first half 18-9, Tech turned the tables on the Terps and outshot the top-ranked team 19-9 in the second half.

In goal for the Hokies was sophomore Alex Gale, who finished the game with seven saves. Maryland used three different goalies in the game and though the second, Kasey Howard, led the trio with two saves, the starter Brittany Dipper walked away with the victory.

Tech will return to action next week as the team heads into postseason play at the ACC Tournament. Seeding and game times have yet to be announced but the Hokies will be playing on the first day of the tournament, Thursday, April 21.

For updates on Virginia Tech lacrosse, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Lax).