LEXINGTON, Va. -- The top-seeded and sixth-ranked Washington and Lee womens lacrosse team claimed its sixth-straight ODAC championship title with a 13-4 victory over second-seeded Roanoke on Sunday at Watt Field.

With the win, the Generals will receive an automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Tournament and set a new program record for wins in a season (17), besting the previous record of 16 in 2006.

W&L (17-2) opened the first-half with seven-unanswered goals, including three tallies from freshman midfielder Emily Mathews (Baltimore, Md./Bryn Mawr), to take a 7-0 lead at 11:28. RC found the back of the net at 8:06 when sophomore midfielder Gina Valles (South Windsor, Conn./Westminster) scored on a free-position shot, but W&L senior attacker Christine Bender (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) added a goal for an 8-1 advantage at the half.

The Generals began the second half scoring when junior attacker Kelsi Robinson (West Chester, Pa./Westtown) found sophomore attacker Britten Mathews (Richmond, Va./Collegiate) at 24:31 to up the lead to 9-1. The Maroons then added two more markers, including one from freshman Meegan Rourke (Greenwich, Conn./Millbrook School) and another from sophomore midfielder Paige Mason (Orangeville, Canada/Orangeville), to cut W&Ls advantage to 9-3 at 17:27. However, the Generals scored four out of the last five goals of the game to ensure their 10th all-time ODAC title.

W&L was paced by Emily Mathews, who scored four goals. Bender tallied two goals and one assist, while junior attacker Katie Flippen (Norfolk, Va./Norfolk Academy) amassed two goals. Robinson registered one goal and dished out two assists. Senior Sarah Tilbor (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) played all 60:00 between the pipes and stopped 13 shots.

RC (10-8) was led by Mason, who notched two goals and one assist. Rourke and sophomore midfielder Gina Valles (South Windsor, Conn./Westminster) added one goal apiece. Junior goalkeeper Katlyn Scarlett (Reisterstown, Md./St. Pauls School for Girls) played the entire contest and made nine saves.

Washington and Lee will find out its first opponent for the 2008 NCAA Tournament on Sun., May 4.

* * * *

Lexington, Va. --- The women's lacrosse team fell to Washington & Lee, 13-4 in the ODAC Championship this afternoon. The loss dropped the Maroons to 10-8 while the Generals advance to the NCAA Tournament with a 17-2 record.

W&L women's lacrosse program defeated the Maroons for the second time this season and the fourth time in the last two seasons. The Generals won their sixth-straight ODAC Title and their seventh over the last eight years.

The Generals outshot Roanoke, 16-9 and 8-7 in groundballs. Roanoke was successful in 5-of-8 clear attempts and was 1-for-4 on free position shots in their 17th ODAC Championship appearance.

Washington & Lee started the game on fire, scoring the first seven goals of the first half before Gina Valles got the Maroons on the board. The Generals scored just before time expired and took an 8-1 advantage at the half.

The Maroons came out strong in the second half, fighting for every loose ball on the ground and scored two of the first three goals over the first 13 minutes to make the score, 9-3. Paige Mason scored her 27th goal of the season to put them within six with just over 17 minutes remaining.

The Generals proved too much for the Maroons, scoring the next four goals to seal their 17th win of the season, which is a program-record.

Valles finished with one goal on the afternoon for the Maroons. She set the freshman scoring record (79 pts), goals record (64) and is second on the team with 15 assists.

1 2    Next  »

2008-04-27