W&L Women Prevail In ODAC

W&L Women Prevail In ODAC

The eighth-ranked Washington and Lee University women’s lacrosse team captured its 14th consecutive Old Dominion Athletic Conference trophy with an 11-10 win over 13th-ranked Roanoke College on Sunday afternoon on Alston Parker Watt Field in Lexington.

The team’s 28th appearance in the title game was a nail-biter for all 60 minutes, but the W&L (16-3) defense held off the Maroons (15-4) to claim the 24th ODAC Championship in program history.

Roanoke took an early 1-0 lead with two minutes off the opening draw but the Blue and White responded with five unanswered scores.

Seniors Hanna Bishop, Alex Petras and Walker McKnight were responsible for the five goals and the defense made numerous stops to build the lead before conceding a 7-on-6 free-position goal at 3:43 by Tracey Benzing.

Grace Koutouzis ended the period with an unassisted Maroons goal to bring RC back within two scores. The visitors capped the first break with a Libby Bowman score 44 seconds into the second quarter.

The two squads split the six goals in the second quarter. To end the half, W&L capitalized on a pair of player-up opportunities with scores from Sophie Edwards, and Petras found the back of the net from the left hash to go up 8-6. RC tied up the score at 6-6 in the first half and then again at 9-9 in the third.

Bishop scored what would be the nail in the coffin at the close of the third. Her unassisted tally with three seconds on the clock gave WLU a 10-9 lead heading to the final frame.

With the one-goal advantage, pace slowed and the two teams split just a pair of final stanza goals. Roanoke registered the last shot of the game, an attempt to tie it up, 11-all with 31 seconds left. Kate Loughran was stuffed by goalie Caroline Kranich, the Generals ran out the clock to capture the trophy.

The Generals had reached the ODAC championship game by coasting to a 19-1 win over Randolph-Macon College on Friday in Lexington.

W&L earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament and will play host for a first-round game on Saturday. For the game time, opponent and updates, visit www.generalssports.com.

W&L earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament and will play host for a first-round game on Saturday. For the game time, opponent and updates, visit www.generalssports.com.