WINCHESTER, Va. – The 21st ranked Washington and Lee women's soccer team won its fifth straight game on Saturday, defeating Shenandoah on the road by a 1-0 score.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Despite not having a game since September 15, the Generals' (5-1, 1-0 ODAC) defense remained as sharp as ever by allowing only one shot on goal in the first half and none through more than 44 minutes of play. On the offensive side, juniors
Sophie Berman and
Sarah Zimmerman combined for three shots on goal in the first 30 minutes, including one each just seconds apart in the 28th minute, but Shenandoah (5-4-1, 0-1-0 ODAC) keeper Kasie Kilmer held strong.
In the 41st minute, a Shenandoah foul gave the Generals a set-piece opportunity in the attacking third. Junior
Bryn Bissinger came up from the defensive half to take the free kick and looped a pass into the box. The ball floated in where Zimmerman leaped over the defense and headed the ball into the back of the net for the lead.
In a scoreless second half, W&L's offense kept the pressure on by taking aim at goal eight times with four shots on goal. The Generals nearly got an insurance goal in the 75th minute, but a shot from Berman hit off the woodwork.
While the Generals were unable to pad their lead in the second half, the defense continued to lock the Shenandoah offense down, allowing no shot attempts to keep the game in their control.
TOP PERFORMERS:
Zimmerman's first-half goal was her first of the season and 12th of her career, while Bissinger tallied her first assist of the year. Berman took a team-high six shots and put three attempts on goal, with Zimmerman taking four shots and putting three on goal. Groff posted her fourth shutout of the season after making one save.
Four different Shenandoah players took one shot each to tally the team's four shot attempts. Kilmer made saves across the 90 minutes of action.
NOTEWORTHY POINTS:
W&L's shutout win on Saturday was their fifth consecutive clean sheet, the first time the program has reached five straight since opening the 2021 season on a five-game shutout streak. The team has still only allowed one goal this season, and none over the last 523:40. Entering Saturday's game, the Generals ranked fifth in Division III in goals-against average (0.200).
TEAM STATS:
W&L finished the game with a 17-4 advantage in total shots, split up by 9-4 and 8-0 first and second half margins, respectively. The Blue and White also earned five corner kicks and conceded two.
UP NEXT:
The Generals will get back on the pitch on Wednesday when they travel to Lynchburg for a 7:00 p.m. battle with the Hornets. That game will not count towards either team's ODAC record.
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.
