April 28, 2012
Hokies ease past Columbia, 12-4
Tech earns back-to-back 10-win season for the first time
12F
Columbia (2-13) 134
Virginia Tech (10-7) 7512
  • Thompson Field - 270

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech lacrosse team wrapped up the 2012 season Saturday afternoon as it knocked off Columbia, 12-4, at Thompson Field. Tech honored the squad’s five seniors prior to the game that saw the class of 2012 combine for 6 of the team’s 15 points on the day.

The seniors helped their team put yet another mark in the history books as the victory moved the Hokies to 10-7 on the year and made it back-to-back ten-win seasons for the first time in program history. This year’s class has also been a part of all three ACC wins and was an integral part of the program’s first win over a top-10 team when the Hokies took down No. 7 Virginia in overtime earlier this year.

Senior Jessica Nonn and freshman Megan Will led the charge for the Hokies (10-7) with three goals apiece, while Paige Cuscovitch led the Lions (2-13) with three goals.

Junior Libby Rosebro got things started for the Hokies as she got them on the board first with a goal after Nonn saved Tech’s first clear of the game and rushed towards Columbia’s end of the field.

Nonn was again involved in setting up Tech’s next goal as she grabbed the ground ball after a Columbia turnover and hurried the ball down the field. She got it to Will, who quickly relayed it to senior Ryan Rotanz for the score.

Nonn finally got a goal of her own when she won the ensuing draw and bolted straight for the cage, firing as soon as she got within range. Following the Nonn goal, Columbia was able to break through and score their first of the day as well.

Will and Nonn, as well as freshman Meg Bartley, each added another goal for the Hokies before the half, to help their team to a comfortable 7-1 lead. At the break, the Hokies has already outshot Columbia 18-5.

Tech began the second half with a three-goal run in the opening ten minutes, but Cuscovitch had an answer as she tried to get things going for the Lions. She buried back-to-back goals in a minute’s time and made it a 10-3 game, but Tech quickly halted the progress.

Seniors Shannon Bone and Morgan Widlake teamed up with 12 minutes to go in the game for their first points of the day, and Nonn added another goal as she ducked and weaved through the defense to get a good look at the cage.

The Hokies finished the game with the 31-17 shooting edge and took a 10-8 draws advantage. Nonn dominated the draw in the game, claiming five.

Junior Alex Gale earned the win and finished the afternoon with 11 saves. Skylar Dabbar manned the cage for the Lions and made six saves in the game.

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

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