Hall of Fame
Joanna Perini ’04 was one of the top goalkeepers to have ever represented Washington and Lee in the sport of lacrosse.
Perini earned four letters with the Generals, serving as a team captain for her senior season. She played in 72 of a possible 73 games during her four years, starting every game in which she participated. She graduated second in program history for career saves (589) and career goals-against average (6.99), and fourth in career save percentage (.566).
Perini earned a starting role from her very first game at W&L and her stingy play in goal helped lead the Generals to a 15-4 record and their first ODAC title in three years. She ended up producing the second-best season goals-against average (6.05), the fourth-most saves for a season (178) and the fourth-best save percentage (.633) in program history. Despite being left off the All-ODAC teams, she went on to earn Second Team All-South Region and US Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-America honors, ranking fourth in the country in save percentage.
As a sophomore, she started all 17 games and produced a .500 save percentage and an 8.44 goals-against average that ranked 29th nationally for a squad that finished 11-6 overall.
Her junior season resulted in a 15-3 overall mark and the second of three ODAC titles during her career. She started all 18 games and tallied a .541 save percentage and a 6.90 goals-against average that ranked 12th in Division III. Following the season, she garnered First Team All-ODAC, Second Team All-State and Second Team All-South Atlantic Region accolades.
Perini’s senior campaign culminated in a 15-4 overall record and another conference championship. She remained a force in goal, racking up First Team All-ODAC laurels to go along with the ODAC Player of the Year and ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year laurels. She was also named First Team All-State, First Team All-South Atlantic Region and IWLCA Third Team All-America. She started 18 contests and produced a .579 save percentage and 6.83 goals-against average that ranked 12th in Division III.
An excellent student as well, Perini earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors as a senior and she was presented with the 2004 Coca-Cola Community All-America Award for her work in the Lexington community.
