LEXINGTON, Va. – Senior midfielder Sammy Yates (Ridgewood, N.J. / Ridgewood) netted the game-winning goal in overtime to propel the top-seeded and 10th-ranked Washington and Lee women's lacrosse team to a 7-6 victory over fifth-seeded Lynchburg in the semifinals of the ODAC Tournament on Wednesday at Watt Field.

With the win, the Generals (13-2) advance to the ODAC Championship game on Saturday. The Hornets conclude their season with a 9-8 overall record.

The Blue and White took a 4-2 lead into intermission, but Lynchburg senior midfielder Katie Seidel (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Chagrin Falls) ignited a three-goal run off of a free position shot at the 28:15 mark of the second stanza (4-3).

First-year midfielder Dorrie MacGregor (Centreville, Md. / Queen Anne's) knotted the game at 4-4 when she scored off of a feed from junior attacker Caroline Carozza (Salisbury, Md. / Parkside) with 17:30 on the clock. Carozza then found junior attacker Lindsay Parker (Owings Mill, Md. / Gerstell Academy) just 25 seconds later to give the Hornets a 5-4 advantage.

Yates notched her first goal of the game at the 11:39 mark to tie the game, but Carozza responded 2:51 later to regain a one-goal lead (6-5) for Lynchburg. Neither team could find the back of the net over the next 7:26 of action until sophomore attacker Lauren Procaccino (Manhasset, N.Y. / Manhasset) tallied the equalizer with 1:22 remaining in the second half to send the game to overtime.

Yates netted her game-winner with 3:46 remaining in overtime to give W&L a 7-6 lead. Senior keeper Cara Mulligan (Glen Ridge, N.J. / Glen Ridge) sealed the victory by stopping the Hornet's lone shot of the extra period with 3:34 left in the contest.

The Generals gained their two-goal halftime lead with four tallies by four different players in the opening stanza.

For the game, W&L out-shot Lynchburg, 26-15, and picked up 19 ground balls as opposed to LC's 12. The Hornets held an edge in draw controls, 9-8.

Mulligan saw the entire contest in goal and posted four saves. Senior goalie Hailey Bossert (San Diego, Calif. / Scripps Ranch) suffered the loss for Lynchburg and registered 11 saves.

Yates and Procaccino finished with two goals each, while junior attacker Melissa Coggins (St. John's, Fla. / Bartram Trail) added a goal and two assists.  Sophomore midfielder Olivia Sisson (Great Falls, Va. / Langley) notched one goal and a game-high five caused turnovers. 

Lynchburg had six different players log its six markers. Carozza finished with one goal and two assists, while Carey notched one goal and an assist.

W&L returns to action on Saturday when it hosts the victor of second-seeded Randolph-Macon and sixth-seeded Virginia Wesleyan in the ODAC Tournament Championship. The time is to be determined.

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