LEXINGTON, Va. — Junior forward Lauren Paolano (Huntington, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) tallied three goals to lead the Washington and Lee field hockey team to a 3-2 upset victory over seventh-ranked Christopher Newport on Saturday at the W&L Turf Field.

This is the highest-ranked team the Generals (2-5) have defeated in program history. The previous best was a 3-1 victory over then 10th-ranked Lynchburg in 2015.

The Captains (4-1) tied the game, 2-2, at the conclusion of the first half. CNU was awarded a penalty corner as time expired, and then given a second corner after another W&L foul. The second time the Captains converted, when sophomore attacker Jacki Katoriy slammed in a pass from senior midfielder Courtnie Greene on the left post.

The score remained at 2-2 through the first 17 minutes of the second half, until Paolano notched her third goal of the game to break the tie. On a counter attack, first-year forward Grace Weise (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Agnes Irwin School) sent a pass from the top of the broken circle into the center of the circle.

Paolano quickly redirected the ball to just inside the right post to give W&L a 3-2 advantage. The three goals gave Paolano four on the season, and it marked the third hat trick of her career. She is now tied for second in career hat tricks in program history with senior teammate Haley Tucker (Manakin-Sabot, Va./St. Catherine's School).   

CNU increased the pressure over the final 23 minutes of the contest, but senior goalkeeper Ariyel Yavalar (Baltimore, Md./Garrison Forest School) registered five of her nine saves in the game over that span, which allowed the Generals hold on for the 3-2 win.

Paolano tallied her first goal of the game in the 10th minute off a penalty corner. The ball was inserted to first-year midfielder Stella Noels (Cambridge, Mass./Middlesex School) at the top of the circle. She passed to the left side, and Paolano struck the ball from 12-yards out inside the left post.

The Captains tied the game in the 31st minute, but Noels and Paolano struck again on an almost identical play with 1:52 left on the clock to push W&L in front, 2-1.

Yavalar played all 70 minutes, while recording her nine saves. Junior goalkeeper Olivia Davis stopped four shots in 70 minutes. It marked the first two collegiate assists for Noels and the first collegiate assist for Weise.

This marked the first victory for the Generals over CNU since the 2008 season. W&L returns to action on Saturday, September 29, when it hosts Shenandoah at 1:00 pm.

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