W&L WOMEN'S LACROSSE EDGES VIRGINIA WESLEYAN, 11-9, IN ODAC TITLE GAME

LEXINGTON, Va. – Tenth-ranked and top-seeded Washington and Lee claimed the Old Dominion Athletic Conference title for the second year in a row as the Generals edged second-seeded Virginia Wesleyan, 11-9, in the championship game on Sunday afternoon at the W&L Lacrosse Stadium.

The Generals (15-3) held a 7-5 lead at halftime and pushed that lead to 8-5 with a goal from senior attacker Kelly Taffe (Charlottesville, Va./Albemarle) with 25:54 remaining. The Marlins (15-3) answered with a goal at the 17:54 mark from senior attacker Anne Marie Nash (Norfolk, Va./Norfolk Academy) to make it 8-6, but W&L quickly regained a three-goal lead (9-6) when senior midfielder Lee Wheeler (Baltimore, Md./Bryn Mawr) sank a goal off an assist by sophomore midfielder Kate Lester (Wilmington, Del./Friends) with 17:21 remaining.

The Marlins pulled back to within 9-7 at the 14:38 mark with a tally from senior midfielder Summer Foster (Annandale, Va./Annandale), but W&L again pushed it's lead to three when sophomore attacker Amanda Strickler (Lexington, Va./Rockbridge County) scored unassisted at 10:22 to make it 10-7.

In the waning minutes of the game, Virginia Wesleyan made one last attempt to even the score with back-to-back goals with 3:53 and 2:48 remaining to pull within 10-9, but the Generals maintained control of the ball for the remainder of the contest while adding an insurance goal from freshman midfielder Mallory Lobisser (Bainbridge Island, Wash./Lakeside) with 22 seconds remaining in the game.

Strickler led W&L with four goals, while Taffe and Lobisser each scored three goals. Wheeler rounded out the Generals' goal scorers with a lone tally, while Lester and junior midfielder Maggie Speasmaker (Charlottesville, Va./St. Anne's-Belfield) each recorded one assist. Senior Joanna Perini (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington) played all 60 minutes in the W&L net, making 12 saves.

Nash led the Marlins with four goals and three assists. Foster scored two goals with one assist and sophomore attacker Laura Wallace (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) added one goal and two assists. Senior Margie Baker (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) made 11 stops in the Virginia Wesleyan net.

The Generals return to action in the NCAA Division III Tournament at a site, time and date yet to be determined, against an opponent yet to be determined.

SCORING:
W&L GOALS: Amanda Strickler (4), Kelly Taffe (3), Mallory Lobisser (3), Lee Wheeler (1).
W&L ASSISTS: Kate Lester (1), Maggie Speasmaker (1).
VWC GOALS: Anne Marie Nash (4), Summer Foster (2), Laura Wallace (1), Brittney Gricius (1), Chrissy Clancy (1).
VWC ASSISTS: Ann Marie Nash (3), Laura Wallace (2), Megan Parris (2), Summer Foster (1).

GOALTENDING:
Joanna Perini (W&L) 60:00 9 GA, 12 Saves
Margie Baker (VWC) 60:00 11 GA, 11 Saves