LEXINGTON, Va. – The Washington and Lee women's soccer team celebrated Senior Day and the regular season finale on Saturday with a 4-0 win over Averett.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Generals (11-2-4, 7-1-2 ODAC) got things going early, when the teamed went on the attack in the 13th minute. Sophomore
Bryn Bissinger found sophomore
Sophie Berman just outside the box with her back to the goal. Berman took one step towards midfield, turned and passed to sophomore
Sarah Zimmerman to her left, who played the ball into the box to sophomore
Helen Otteni cutting to the goal. Otteni then needed just one touch to put the ball past the keeper for a 1-0 lead.
First-year
Stephanie Zawtocki doubled the lead in the 42nd minute with her third goal of the season, when she put a shot into the net after an attempt from senior
Mady Laudisi banged off the crossbar and came right to the foot of Zawtocki.
The W&L lead swelled to three goals just 1:58 into the second half when Berman made a run up the left side with the ball and sent a cross into the goal box. Senior
Cameron Grainger then got on the scoreboard, as she volleyed the ball into the goal for her sixth score of the year. Junior
Sarah Lathrop put the finishing touches on the win in the 81st minute when she scored on a penalty kick for her third goal of the season.
TOP PERFORMERS:
Berman led the offense as she assisted on two goals, for helpers four and five this season, to put her point total at 14. Otteni and Grainger both scored their sixth goals of the season to tie Zimmerman for the team lead, while Zimmerman added her team-best sixth assist of the year on Otteni's goal as well. Laudisi was credited with the assist on Zawtocki's goal, her first this season.
Offensively, seven different W&L players had four shots each to share the team lead, while 15 players got at least one shot off. In goal, senior
Sydney Smith collected her seventh shutout of the season in a game in which the defense gave the Cougars (6-10-2, 3-7-0 ODAC) little to no room to operate.
Despite four goals allowed, Averett keeper Krista Hinebaugh made seven saves across the 90 minutes of play.
NOTEWORTHY POINTS:
Smith's seventh shutout of the season gives her 16 for her career, which ties Emily Barker '15 for the seventh most by an individual in program history. Smith can move into a tie for sixth place with Kate Stimeling '93 with three more clean sheets.
With the win, the Generals finish the conference season with a record of 7-1-2, which gives them 23 points in the ODAC standings. That finish secures the team the No. 3 seed in the ODAC Tournament, which guarantees W&L a home ODAC quarterfinal game.
TEAM STATS:
W&L not only held the Cougars scoreless, but the defense also did not allow a single shot attempt in the shutout. On the offensive end, the Blue and White took 37 shots, with 13 on goal, and earned 11 corner kicks while conceding none.
UP NEXT:
The Generals will host an ODAC quarterfinal contest on Tuesday. The start time and opponent are yet to be determined.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
