BRIDGEWATER, Va. – The fifth-ranked Washington and Lee women's lacrosse team clinched the top seed for the ODAC Tournament, defeating Bridgewater College by a score of 18-5 on Thursday evening at Jopson Field.
 
The Generals (14-2, 7-0) opened a 2-0 lead in the first 4:45 of the game on the strength of goals from sophomore midfielder Walker McKnight (Nashville, Tenn. / Harpeth Hall) and sophomore attacker Julia Thomson (Larchmont, N.Y. / Hackley School).  The Eagles (6-11, 3-5) scored their first marker at the 6:47 mark, but W&L closed the first period with four straight goals, including two by junior midfielder Jenny Lisovicz (Glen Ridge, N.J. / Glen Ridge), to push out to a 6-1 advantage by the end of the quarter.
 
Bridgewater started the second quarter scoring when Annika Benson scored her second goal of the game, but the Blue & White scored the  next 10 goals to assume a 16-2 lead with 4:18 left in the third quarter.  Thomson, senior attacker Janie Stillwell (Alexandria, Va. / Episcopal) and sophomore midfielder Ginny Taylor (Madison, N.J. / Madison) all scored two goals during the run, with sophomore attacker Hanna Bishop (Bronxville, N.Y. / Bronxville) adding one goal and assisting on three others.
 
W&L substituted liberally in the final quarter of play in cruising to its 12th straight win.
 
The Generals held a 33-11 advantage in shots and a 21-17 edge in ground balls.  W&L also claimed 21 draw controls while forcing 24 BC turnovers.
 
Junior attacker Allie Schwab (Bryn Mawr, Pa. / Harriton) paced the W&L offense with one goal and a career-high five assists, and Thomson finished with four goals.  Bishop totaled one goal and three assists, while McKnight, Lisovicz, Stillwell and Taylor scored two goals apiece.  McKnight collected a game-high six draw controls as well.  Three goalkeepers all played for the Generals, with sophomore Caroline Kranich (State College, Pa. / Mercersburg Academy) earning the win after totaling three saves.
 
Kaity Petersheim led the Eagles with two goals and one assist.  Benson finished with two goals and Rachael Robinson played all 60 minutes in goal, making 10 saves.
 
Washington and Lee will close out the regular season on Saturday with a road contest at Virginia Wesleyan.  The game will begin at 2:00 pm.