LEXINGTON, Va. – In a rematch of last year's NCAA Quarterfinals, seventh-ranked Washington and Lee avenged its postseason loss with a 13-7 win over No. 2 Salisbury on Sunday afternoon at Watt Field.
The Generals (2-1) used a pair of 5-0 scoring runs, one in each half, to take control of the game and limit the Sea Gulls (2-1) to no more than three consecutive goals at any point. Salisbury closed the second quarter with a goal and opened the third with two (10:26, 7:14), but W&L's defense held firm, preventing the visitors from building any further momentum. Junior
Iman Haddad was a force in goal, recording a career-high 17 saves in just her second career start—eclipsing her total of 16 saves from the entire 2024 season.
The Generals struck first with an unassisted goal from
Lara Baki at 11:44 in the first quarter, but Salisbury responded with back-to-back goals at 10:27 and 6:05. From there,
Katie Reed sparked a 5-0 W&L run, which stretched into the second quarter and ended at the 5:46 mark with Baki's second goal, giving the Generals a 6-2 advantage.
W&L sandwiched Salisbury's 3-0 run in the middle of the contest with five more unanswered goals, extending its lead to 11-5 by the 7:41 mark of the final quarter. The teams then traded the last four goals to close out the game.
Senior attacker
Brianna Benoit played a pivotal role in both scoring runs, delivering two crucial goals. She converted a free-position shot at 8:05 in the second quarter and later capitalized on a drive from the left-side hashes at the 4:06 mark in the third, each time giving W&L an important three-goal cushion to keep Salisbury at bay.
The Generals are now 6-2 all-time at home against the Sea Gulls, handing Salisbury its first loss of the 2025 season.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Salisbury outshot W&L 32-28, but the Generals were more efficient with 19 shots on goal compared to Salisbury's 24.
- W&L's Iman Haddad posted a career-best 17 saves, while Salisbury's goalkeepers combined for just 6 saves.
- Salisbury held a 13-10 edge in draw controls, led by Julianna Ott's six.
- W&L secured 22 ground balls compared to Salisbury's 20, with Libby Ford leading the Generals with seven.
- Salisbury committed 8 turnovers, while the Generals registered 12 turnovers.
- W&L forced five turnovers, with two coming from Libby Ford and SU forced eight total turnovers from the Generals. However, the visitors were exceptional at blocking several shooting attempts inside the 8-meter and gaining possession.
- Both teams were exceptional on clearing transitions with W&L going 22-for-23, while the Sea Gulls finished 16-for-17.
- Coming into today's non-conference matchup, the Gulls were averaging 11 goals per game and the Generals defense stiffled the SU offense to just seven scores.
W&L LEADERS
- Hannah Van Son led all players with four goals, including two on free-position shots.
- Lara Baki netted a hat trick, while Brianna Benoit and Claire Horner each added two goals.
- Claire Horner was the only W&L player with an assist, finishing with three points.
- Cat Caples led the Generals with four draw controls, while Kelly Polacek secured three.
- Libby Ford was a key defensive presence with two caused turnovers and seven ground balls.
- W&L totaled 28 shots, with 19 on goal, and converted 5-of-9 free-position opportunities.
SU LEADERS
- Grace Doyle and Miranda Mears each tallied two goals.
- Audrey Harrington recorded two assists, both setting up key scoring chances.
- Julianna Ott dominated the circle with six draw controls, helping Salisbury gain possessions.
- Abby Fleishell and Abby Lantos combined for three caused turnovers and five ground balls.
- Salisbury took 32 shots, 24 on goal, and converted two free-position goals on three attempts.
UP NEXT
Washington and Lee returns to action Tuesday afternoon at Ferrum College in ODAC action at 4 p.m. - February 25.
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.
