VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Sophomore attacker Christine Bender (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) scored off an assist from senior attacker Amanda Strickler (Lexington, Va./Rockbridge County) with 4:36 remaining to lift the 11th-ranked Washington and Lee women's lacrosse team to a 9-8 win over Virginia Wesleyan in ODAC action on Saturday afternoon in Virginia Beach, Va. With the win, W&L improved to 13-3 overall, 8-0 ODAC, and clinched the No. 1 seed in the ODAC Tournament. The Marlins fell to 13-3 overall, 7-1 ODAC, and will be the No. 2 seed in the ODAC Tournament.
The Generals jumped out to a 2-0 lead with 5:11 gone-by on unassisted goals by junior midfielder Kelly Evans (Lexington, Va./Rockbridge County) and senior attacker Kate Lester (Wilmington, Del./Friends). The Marlins cut the deficit to 2-1 at the 16:21 mark when sophomore midfielder Jillian Boyd scored off a feed from junior attacker Chrissy Clancy. However, W&L would tally the next two goals to push its' advantage to 4-1 with 13:25 remaining in the half. VWC then notched five consecutive goals to grab a 6-4 advantage just 2:43 into the second stanza. Boyd and senior midfielder Laura Wallace both recorded two markers during the run.
Trailing 7-5 with 23:13 left, W&L sophomore midfielder Megan Slosson (Cockeysville, Md./Maryvale Prep) scored back-to-back goals to tie the game at 7-7 at the 20:51 mark. The Marlins regained the lead at 8-7 on an unassisted tally by Wallace with 15:57 left, but the Generals again knotted the score at 8-8 just 1:49 later on an unassisted goal by Strickler to set up Bender's game-winning goal.
Bender and Slosson both scored two goals, while Strickler and Evans each added a goal and an assist. Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Tilbor (West Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) played all 60:00 and made five saves.
The Marlins were led by Boyd, who finished with a game-high four goals. Wallace notched three goals, while Clancy had one goal and one assist. Freshman goalkeeper Ashley Sippel also played the entire game and stopped 16 shots.
The Generals return to the field on Saturday in the ODAC Tournament semifinals at Watt Field. The opponent and time are still to be determined.
SCORING:
W&L GOALS: Christine Bender 2, Megan Slosson 2, Kelly Evans 1, Kate Lester 1, Karina Schless 1, Rachel Wallick 1, Amanda Strickler 1.
W&L ASSISTS: Louisa Feve 1, Kelly Evans 1, Avery Lovejoy 1, Amanda Strickler 1.
VWC GOALS: Jillian Boyd 4, Laura Wallace 3, Chrissy Clancy 1.
VWC ASSISTS: Chrissy Clancy 1, Kasey Marchwicki 1, Kember Greco 1.
GOALTENDING:
Sarah Tilbor (W&L) 60:00, 8 GA, 5 Saves
Ashley Sippel (VWC) 60:00, 9 GA, 16 Saves
-- GENERALS --
