LYNCHBURG, Va.—Host Randolph College spoiled the 2018 season debut for Agnes Scott with a 4-1 win over the Scotties on Saturday afternoon. The WildCats scored twice in the third minute of regulation and kept the Scottie offense at bay for much of the day to notch the victory.
The opener did not start as planned for the Scotties with Randolph's Sara Bane (Blue Ridge, Va.) causing trouble from the opening whistle. Bane assisted on a through ball to Sam Hablas (Stafford, Va.) just two minutes into regulation before adding a goal herself just 17 seconds later.
Two and a half minutes into their season and the Scotties found themselves down two goals. Agnes Scott settled down after the initial surprise and was able to pressure the WildCats on several occasions in the first half, but could not cut the lead in half.
That changed early in the second when first-year Skye Svehlak (Huntsville, Ala.) made her presence known with a finish off a pass from senior Zoey Perchaluk (Fort Erie, Ont.).
Agnes Scott looked to build off the momentum, but Randolph put a damper on those efforts in the 54th minute when Bane found the back of the net for the second time. Randolph midfielder Alaina Gembach (Lebanon, Va.) added an unassisted goal in the 75th minute to put the WildCats up three.
Abby Ackerson (Hoover, Ala.) made six stops in 64 minutes, while first-year Alyssa Bayus (Phoenix, Ariz.) notched her first two career saves.
Randolph senior keeper Shelby Lutz (Lynchburg, Va.) had one save and one goal against in 81 minutes to earn the win in net.
The Scotties make a pit stop in Raleigh, North Carolina to play William Peace tomorrow at 3 p.m. before heading back to Decatur.