CLEMSON’S FOURTH QUARTER RUN LIFTS No. 19 TIGERS OVER VIRGINIA TECH ON SENIOR DAY

By Bradley Winterling

Staff Writer

April 16, 2023

BLACKSBURG – Clemson scored four goals in a row at the end of the fourth quarter to sneak past Virginia Tech on Senior Day Saturday afternoon in a back and forth contest. The No. 19 Tigers (10-5, 2-5 ACC) defeated the Hokies (8-6, 3-4), 16-12, in a game that was up for grabs until Clemson pulled away in the final minutes. 

Before the game, all seniors on Tech received a standing ovation from the crowd as their names were called to be recognized. Hannah Mardiney, Kayla Frank, Paige Tyson, Mary Griffin, Michaela McCarthy, Grace New, Riley Hayden and Jacelyn Lazore represent the senior class on the Hokies’ lacrosse team.

The game got off to a quick start, with a goal from Olivia Vergano, who is the leading scorer for the Hokies on the season. However, Clemson fired back with two goals of their own, coming from Belle Martire and Hanna Hilcoff, two of Clemson’s many players who had marvelous outings on the day. 

Tech then answered with three goals of its own, which consisted of a second from Vergano, and goals from Maura O’Malley and Claire Schotta. Right before the first quarter ended, Clemson’s Martire answered with another goal. Virginia Tech had some missed opportunities on the day, and giving up a goal with just five seconds left in the first quarter was one of them. 

The second quarter continued to go back and forth between the two squads, with the Hokies scoring three goals and the Tigers scoring four. 

Another unlucky moment occurred for Tech when Rishko, the reigning ACC Player of the Week, barely missed on a shot that she fired at the goal with just 13 seconds to go before halftime. The ball smashed into the left post and appeared that it was going to get through, but somehow did not find its way into the back of the net. 

Even after a couple unlucky moments for Tech, it still went into halftime only down 8-7 to the No. 19 ranked team in the nation. Although there were some things to be down about for the Hokies, they had to feel pretty good about the spot they were in going into the third. 

Just like the first half, the third quarter continued to be neck and neck. Clemson scored four goals, and Tech scored three. Hilcoff started to catch fire, scoring her fourth and fifth goals of the game for Clemson. Tech’s Olivia Vergano also had a strong showing of her own, notching four goals on the afternoon.

Going into the fourth, Clemson held a 12-10 lead over the Hokies. Both teams had exactly 24 shots, proving how evenly the teams were playing each other. However, Tech had to find a way to close the gap. 

That is exactly what the Hokies did, scoring two goals in a row to start the fourth quarter, coming from Mardiney and Rishko. However, Rishko’s goal to tie up the game with 8:44 to go in the fourth was the final goal Tech would score on the day. 

Clemson answered with four unanswered goals in the final eight minutes of the game. Chloe Willard, New, Hilcoff and Marina Miller all chipped in with a goal in the fourth quarter after allowing the Hokies to tie up the game.

Virginia Tech was unable to slow down the Tigers at the end of the fourth, and ended up losing by four goals in a game that was both extremely competitive and high-level.

Clemson’s two highest scorers on the season, Hilcoff and New, combined for nine goals. Hilcoff finished the game with six as New joined Martire and Miller with all three netting hat tricks on the day.

Despite the loss, Tech’s Vergano and O’Malley were able to score four goals each. Vergano improved her goal total on the season to 36, as she continues to be the best shot-maker for the Hokies. Rishko scored two goals, as Mardiney and Schotta both scored once. 

The Hokies are still in a solid position, as they fall to 8-7 on the season and 3-5 in conference play. They have a quick turnaround as they face off against Furman at home this Monday, and will then play their final game of the regular season against rival Virginia in Charlottesville on Thursday night.