LEXINGTON, Va. -- Tenth-ranked and top-seeded Washington and Lee won its 15th game in a row and claimed the Old Dominion Athletic Conference women's lacrosse championship with an 11-7 win over third-seeded Roanoke on Sunday afternoon at the Liberty Hall Fields.
The victory tied the school record for wins in a season and gives W&L an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Roanoke (11-6) began the scoring as sophomore attacker Meaghan Cromwell (Alexandria, Va./Mt. Vernon) found the net off an assist by sophomore attacker Steph Calabrese (Darien, Conn./Darien) with 4:24 gone-by. However, the Generals answered with four straight goals over the next 11:43, two by junior attacker Kelly Taffe (Charlottesville, Va./Albemarle), to assume a 4-1 lead in claiming a 6-3 halftime advantage.
The Generals (15-1) then scored the first two goals of the second half, one by freshman attacker Amanda Strickler (Lexington, Va./Rockbridge County) and another by sophomore midfielder Erin Rathbone (Darnestown, Md./Northwest) from junior midfielder Lee Wheeler (Baltimore, Md./Bryn Mawr), for an 8-3 lead in posting the win.
Wheeler and Taffe led W&L with three goals each, while senior attacker Leslie Bogart (Wilton, Conn./Wilton) notched one goal and four assists. Rathbone added a pair of scores and junior netminder Joanna Perini (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington) posted nine saves in goal.
The Maroons were paced by Calabrese and Cromwell's two goals and one assist each. Junior midfielder Carrie Smith (Charlottesville, Va./Monticello) also added a pair of goals. Senior Lisa Humphries (Glasgow, Va./Rockbridge County) made five saves in net.
Washington and Lee will return to action on Saturday as it hosts Longwood for a 12:00 pm contest.
SCORING:
W&L GOALS - Kelly Taffe 3, Lee Wheeler 3, Erin Rathbone 2, Leslie Bogart 1, Kristen Brown 1, Amanda Strickler 1.
W&L ASSISTS - Leslie Bogart 4, Lee Wheeler 1.
RC GOALS - Steph Calabrese 2, Meaghan Cromwell 2, Carrie Smith 2, Laura Esty 1.
RC ASSISTS - Steph Calabrese 1, Meaghan Cromwell 1, Emily Hearn 1.
GOALTENDING:
Joanna Perini (W&L) 60:00, 7 GA, 9 Saves
Lisa Humphries (RC) 60:00, 11 GA, 5 Saves
-- GENERALS --
