LYNCHBURG, Va. — Top-seeded Lynchburg scored the first two goals of the game, and held off a late rally from the second-seeded Washington and Lee field hockey team to earn a 3-1 victory and claim the 2020-21 ODAC Championship on Sunday at Shellenberger Field.
 
The Hornets (9-0) struck first with three minutes remaining in the second period. Off a penalty corner, the ball was sent toward the cage from the top of the circle. Senior forward Emily Dudley corralled the ball and fired a shot from the right side. Junior goalkeeper Sara Amil (East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton) made the save, but junior forward Brittany Claybaugh was ready for the rebound and one-touched the ball into the back of the cage.
 
Lynchburg took the 1-0 lead into the break but held just a one-shot advantage in the first half, 8-7. The Hornets also took three penalty corners to just one for the Generals (8-2).
 
Neither team scored in the third, but Lynchburg added its second goal just 20 seconds into the fourth. Dudley brought the ball up the right side, and after taking one touch inside the circle, she lasered a pass to the front of the goal. Sophomore forward Emily Yanes, running toward the goal line, deflected the air-borne pass into the top of the cage for the tally.
 
Just two minutes later, the Blue and White answered to trim the deficit to one (2-1). First-year midfielder Emma Gatrell (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Latin School) had the ball on the right side just outside the circle, and sent a pass to the center. Senior forward Grace Amaden (East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton) secured the feed, paused and then beat the keeper inside the left post for her team-leading 12th goal of the season.
 
With 11:32 left in the game, Lynchburg extended its lead to 3-1 on a penalty corner. The ball was sent to the top of the circle, and then Dudley struck the ball toward the cage. Once again, Yanes was there to deflect the ball past Amil for the score.
 
Over the final 10 minutes, the Blue and White took two more shots on goal, but senior Laurel Nicks made a save each time to secure the victory for the Hornets.
 
W&L edged Lynchburg in shots, 13-12, while the Hornets held a 7-3 advantage in penalty corners.  
 
Amil made seven saves in the contest, playing all 60 minutes. Nicks also saw 60 minutes of action, stopping five shots.
 
This concludes the 2020-21 season for the Blue and White.