February 22, 2012
Hokies top High Point, 18-8
Martin leads Tech with six goals
12F
High Point (1-1) 718
Virginia Tech (2-0) 11718
  • Moseley Field - 224

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Behind a six-goal, seven-point performance from junior attack Brooke Martin, the Virginia Tech lacrosse team held on to knock off the High Point Panthers, 18-8, at Moseley Field on the Virginia Tech campus Wednesday afternoon. Due to the weather conditions, the game was moved to the turf practice field, rather than being played at Tech’s usual venue, Thompson Field.

The Hokies move to 2-0 in the win, while High Point, who was led by Sara Kuhlman’s four goals, drops to 1-1 so far this season.

Senior Jessica Nonn was the first to strike for the Hokies, when she buried a shot four minutes into the game. Tech would tack on two more scores, one by Martin and another from senior Ryan Rotanz, before the Panthers struck eight minutes in.

Tech responded to the goal and extended its lead, holding High Point scoreless over the next ten minutes, adding four goals of its own to make it 7-1.

High Point’s Grace Gaeng sparked the Panthers with 12 minutes until halftime when she put away a pass from Christie Dougherty. Just under three minutes later, High Point shifted the momentum in the draw and was able to string together three quick scores to slim down the Tech lead, 8-5.

Play went back-and-forth for the closing minutes of the first half, but a goal from freshman Megan Will with under a minute to play until the break helped the Hokies take an 11-7 lead into the half and keep the momentum on their side.

Rotanz wasted no time as she put away a pass from senior Morgan Widlake exactly 30 seconds into the new session. Just over a minute later Widlake tacked on an unassisted score of her own.

Kuhlman tried to spark the Panthers with an early goal in the second half but the Hokies were in control and never looked back. They did not allow the Panthers to score again in the game, despite only scoring one goal in the final 20 minutes of action.

Will was again sensational for the Hokies as she finished the day with four goals and one assist, while Nonn also added five points via three goals and two assists, also winning eight draws.

Dougherty rounded out the Panther offense as she tallied four assists in the game.

Tech dominated possession in the game, out-shooting the Panthers 34-15, while also holding the draws edge, 19-9.

Junior Alex Gale got the nod in goal for the Hokies and played the full 60 minutes. She came alive in the second half and finished the evening with four saves. Anna Wallingford made the start in goal for the Panthers but saw just 22 minutes of action, allowing eight goals and making just one save. She was relieved late in the first half by Julia Burns, who made six stops but allowed 10 goals.

Tech will hit the field again on Saturday, Feb. 25 as it faces William & Mary at 1 p.m. on Thompson Field.

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

HokieSports Shop