Box Score LANCASTER, Pa. – The sixth-ranked Washington and Lee University women's lacrosse team fell to fourth-ranked Franklin & Marshall, 16-12, in their 2025 season opener on Sunday afternoon at Shadek Stadium.
With the Generals (0-1) up 4-2 in the first quarter, a 7-1 offensive surge by the Diplomats (1-0) in the middle of the first half proved decisive. F&M capitalized on its advantages in draw controls and timely scoring to secure the non-conference victory, breaking a three-game Generals winning streak.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Franklin & Marshall's Lauren Pittman opened the scoring at 14:46, but W&L's Hannah Van Son responded quickly to tie the game. The Generals briefly took control with goals by Katie Reed and Van Son to build a 3-1 lead.
With the Generals up 4-2, the Diplomats' offense surged late in the first and second quarters, highlighted by Lane Lambeth and Lydia Cassilly, who combined for 10 goals. A pivotal run midway through the game gave F&M a 9-5 halftime lead that W&L couldn't overcome.
The Generals rallied with back-to-back goals from Lara Baki and Emma Marsh late in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 11-9, but Cassilly's fourth-quarter tallies sealed the victory for the home team.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Franklin & Marshall dominated with a 22-10 advantage in draw controls, led by Pittman's game-high 10 draw controls.
- W&L edged F&M in ground balls, 17-16, with Libby Ford and Hannah Van Son contributing four and three, respectively.
- Both goalies made seven saves, with W&L's Iman Haddad recording two key stops in each of the first three quarters to keep the Generals within striking distance.
- Turnovers plagued both squads in the season opener with W&L finishing with 16 and F&M tallying 19.
W&L LEADERS
- In her first collegiate game, Lara Baki tallied a team-best four points off a hat trick and one assist.
- Emma Marsh and Hannah Van Son scored three goals each for the Generals.
- Claire Horner recorded three assists to lead the team in distribution.
- Cat Caples controlled six draws and Marsh collected three of her own.
F&M LEADERS
- Lydia Cassilly led all scorers with six goals.
- Lane Lambeth added four goals to help power the Diplomats.
- Lauren Pittman contributed three goals and two assists while securing 10 draw controls.
- Megan Bizub and Belle Dintino caused five turnovers combined to anchor the defense.
UP NEXT
Washington and Lee returns to action on Tuesday, February 18 and will host Guilford College in an ODAC matchup.
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.
