Lynchburg, Va. -- University of Lynchburg's field hockey team opened its Old Dominion Athletic Conference schedule with a 3-1 victory over Roanoke Wednesday night, boosted by a huge game from senior forward Nikki Simpao (Stafford, Va.).

Simpao scored twice for Lynchburg and assisted the Hornets' third score. She vaulted into a tie for the ODAC lead in goals, matching teammate Isabella Eldridge (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) with eight goals this season.

Freshman forward Brittany Claybaugh (Chesapeake, Va.) added the exclamation point for the Hornets, her first collegiate goal.

Sophomore goalkeeper Laurel Nicks (Yorktown, Va.) made five saves for Lynchburg.

THE RUNDOWN

Final: Lynchburg 3, Roanoke 1

Records: Lynchburg (4-3, 1-0 ODAC), Roanoke (3-1, 0-1 ODAC)

Venue: Liberty University Field Hockey Complex, Lynchburg, Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Hornets opened the scoring in the 16th minute, a Simpao goal assisted by sophomore defender Hayden Shockley (Milford, Del.).

• Simpao scored again in the 30th minute after sophomore forward Emily Dudley (Westminster, Md.) corralled a rebound from a Maroons save and found the senior on the left side. Lynchburg took the 2-0 lead into halftime.

• Roanoke's Emilee Wooten halved the lead in the 42nd minute on Megan Diehl's assist.

• The Hornets iced the game in the 57th minute when Simpao found an open Claybaugh on the right side of the arc. The freshman finished into the open cage.

LOOKING AHEAD

Lynchburg will kick off a three-game roadtrip Saturday, Sept. 29 with a trip to York. The game is slated for a 1 p.m. start.

--LYN--