LEXINGTON, Va. – The ninth-ranked Washington and Lee women's lacrosse team scored seven-straight goals in the first-half en route to winning its 2009 season-opener, 17-6, over No. 16 St. Mary's of Maryland on Saturday afternoon at Watt Field.

The Generals (1-0) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening 9:03 of the game on a pair of goals by junior attacker Britten Mathews (Richmond, Va./Collegiate) and an unassisted tally from junior attacker Meredith Freeman (St. Louis, Mo./MICDS).  However, the Seahawks scored four goals over the next 4:20 of the game to take a 4-3 lead at 14:03.  Junior attacker Nora Fallon-Oben (Silver Spring, Md./St. John's College) posted two tallies and an assist during the stretch.  

W&L then assumed control of the game by scoring seven-straight goals, including a hat trick by senior midfielder Colleen Evans (Lexington, Va./Rockbridge) en route to a 12-5 advantage at the intermission. Washington and Lee then used another scoring outburst after the break, this time with five-straight goals, in cruising to the victory. 

The Blue and White were led by Freeman, who recorded four goals.  Mathews and Evans notched three goals apiece, while sophomore midfield Emmy Mathews (Baltimore, Md./Bryn Mawr) tallied two markers and one helper.  Senior attacker Kelsi Robinson (West Chester, Pa./Westtown) chipped in one goal and assists. 

St. Mary's (0-1) was led by Fallon-Oben's two goals and two assists.  Senior midfielder Lauren Carrier (Crownsville, Md./Old Mill) dished out two helpers and tallied one goal, while senior midfielder Allie Zerhusen (Cockeysville, Md./The Park School) amassed two goals. 

Sophomore goalkeeper Katharine Farrar (Lexington, Va./Episcopal) and first-year netminder Jennifer Linder (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) split time in goal and combined to stop eight shots, while first-years Colleen Simpson (Arnold, Md./Broadneck) and Colleen Gradowski (Bethesda, Md./Walter Johnson) also shared minutes between the pipes and combined to register five saves. 

Washington and Lee returns to action on Saturday as it travels to Catholic for a 1:00 pm contest.

AGATE:

W&L GOALS:
Meredith Freeman 4, Britten Mathews 3, Colleen Evans 3, Emmy Mathews 2, Katie Flippen 2, Kelsi Robinson 1, Kate Donnelly 1, Maddie McKaig 1.

W&L ASSISTS:
Kelsi Robinson 2, Kate Donnelly 1, Emmy Mathews 1.

SMCM GOALS:
Nora Fallon-Oben 2, Allie Zerhusen 2, Lauren Carrier 1, Emily Norris 1.

SMCM ASSISTS:
Lauren Carrier 2, Nora Fallon-Oben 2, Caitlin Nichols 1.

GOALKEEPERS:
W&L - Katharine Farrar - 30:00, 1 save, 5 GA
W&L - Jennifer Linder - 30:00, 7 saves, 1 GA
SMC - Colleen Simpson - 52:58, 5 saves, 15 GA
SMC - Colleen Gradowski - 7:02, 0 saves, 2 GA