LEXINGTON, Va. – The top-seeded Washington and Lee women's soccer team rode a pair of first-half goals to a 2-1 victory over second-seeded Virginia Wesleyan in the ODAC Championship game on Sunday at Watt Field.

The Generals (15-3-1) grabbed an early 1-0 advantage in the 21st-minute when senior forward Tricia Jessee (Roanoke, Va. / Patrick Henry) dribbled to the middle of the field and blasted a shot that VWC (12-5-3) first-year goalkeeper Taylor Chapman got a hand on and then hit the underside of the crossbar before finding the net. 

W&L's lead grew to 2-0 a short time later when senior defender Katie Clemmons (Phoenix, Ariz. / Chaparral) crossed the ball in front of goal to sophomore midfielder Megan Engeland (Yardley, Pa. / Pennsbury), who headed it home for the two-goal advantage.

The Generals' defense continually stunted the Marlins' forward push in opening 20 minutes of the second half, but the Marlins eventually got on the board at the 69:09 mark when a loose ball found the feet of senior midfielder Annie Hartman, who turned and fired a shot in the upper left corner of the goal to make it a 2-1 game.

Virginia Wesleyan had a few looks in the box and got off two more shots in the final 20:51, but could not find the goal, as W&L claimed its first league title since the 2009 season.

Virginia Wesleyan held an 8-7 advantage in shots, while W&L claimed a narrow 3-2 edge in corner kicks.

Sophomore Maggie Nolan (Flanders, N.J. / Mount Olive) played all 90 minutes in goal and posted two saves.  Chapman also played the duration and recorded one stop.

Engeland, Clemmons, senior defender Hollis Tardy (Dallas, Texas / The Hockaday School) and sophomore forward Caroline Peters (Charlotte, N.C. / Charlotte Latin School) were all named to the all-tournament team for W&L.

Washington and Lee will find out who its opponent will be in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday at 1:30 pm.

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