LEXINGTON, Va. -- The W&L field hockey team, behind a balanced offensive attack and a stout defense, defeated Virginia Wesleyan, 5-1, on Saturday, to advance to the semifinal round of the ODAC Tournament.
W&L jumped out to a 1-0 lead when junior Sallie Armstrong (Houston, St. John's), one of seven Generals to notch at least one point, scored an unassisted goal at the 4:32 mark. Senior Christina Merchant (Midlothian, Va./Collegiate) scored the first of her two goals off an assist from senior Melissa Dolan (Centennial, Colo./Kent Denver) to give W&L a 2-0 advantage at 18:50.
Merchant struck again in the 21st minute when she deposited a pass from senior Liz Garson (Richmond, Va./Collegiate) past VWC's first-year keeper Chelsea Baker (Norfolk, Va,Granby) to extend the Generals' lead to 3-0.
Sophomore Poppy Hall (Towson, Md./Garrison Forest) made it a four-goal advantage at the break when she redirected a shot from classmate Jennie Norcini (Wayne, Pa./Episcopal) for her third goal of the season at the 24:04 mark.
Garson made it a 5-0 game in the 44th minute when she took a feed from sophomore Emily Mathews (Baltimore, Md./Bryn Mawr) and sent it past the Marlins' Kiera Mowery (Virginia Beach. Va./Tallwood). For Mathews, it was her team-leading eighth assist of the season.
VWC got on the board in the 65th minute when junior Whitney King (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood) put a loose ball past W&L junior keeper Caroline Habliston (Alexandria, Va./St. Stephen's & St. Agnes). Habliston played the entire contest in the cage for the Generals and registered five saves. Norcini added a defensive save, while junior Grace McGee (Virginia Beach, Va./Floyd E. Kellam) and first-year Lizz Dye (Houston, Texas/Episcopal) added two apiece.
The Generals will take on top-seeded Eastern Mennonite, 10-0 winners over Sweet Briar, in the ODAC semifinals on Wednesday. Game time has yet to be determined.
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Scoring Summary:
W&L - Sallie Armstrong (unassisted): 4:32
W&L - Christina Merchant (Meliss Dolan): 18:50
W&L - Christina Merchan (Liz Garson): 20:40
W&L - Poppy Hall (Jennie Norcini): 24:04
W&L - Liz Garson (Emily Mathews): 43:40
VWC - Whitney King (unassisted): 64.20
Goalkeepers:
Caroline Habliston (W&L) - 70:00, 1 goal against, 5 saves
Chelsea Baker (VWC) - 56:48, 4 goals allowed, 14 saves
Kieara Mowery (VWC) - 13:12, 1 goal allowed, 2 saves
Team Stats:
W&L - 31 shots, 13 penalty corners, 10 saves
VWC - 10 shots, 9 penalty corners, 17 saves
