LEXINGTON, Va. – The 10th-ranked Washington and Lee women's lacrosse team celebrated Senior Day with a thrilling 10-9 victory over No. 21 Denison on Sunday afternoon at Watt Field.
The Generals (9-4) held off a late rally from the Big Red (6-4), scoring the game-winning goal with 7:23 remaining to secure their second consecutive win. The back-and-forth contest featured four lead changes, but
Emma Marsh delivered the decisive goal as W&L honored its seven seniors from the Class of 2025.
Game Summary
Washington and Lee opened strong, scoring four first-quarter goals to build an early advantage.
Lara Baki (14:27),
Emma Marsh (12:57),
Brianna Benoit (5:21), and
Hannah Van Son (0:44) each tallied goals, helping the Generals take a 4-1 lead after the first quarter.
W&L extended its lead to 5-1 early in the second, with Van Son netting her second goal at 13:15. Denison responded with a man-up goal from Emersen Thompson (12:04), but the Generals answered with two more before halftime—one from Marsh (11:50) and a give-and-go transition goal from sophomore defender,
Ciara Smith (3:52). The player-down goal gave W&L a 7-3 edge at the break.
Denison took control in the third quarter, outscoring W&L 3-1 to close the gap to 8-6 entering the fourth. The Big Red then scored three straight goals in the first five minutes of the final period, taking their first lead of the game at 10:37 on a goal from MK Barnhart to make it 9-8.
However, the Generals responded when it mattered most. Baki tied the game at 8:26, and just over a minute later, Marsh put W&L back in front at 7:23 with her third goal of the game. The Generals' defense held strong in the closing minutes, with goalkeeper
Iman Haddad making a key save on a Denison free-position shot at 4:08, preserving the win.
By The Numbers
- Shots: Washington and Lee outshot Denison 31-27, with a 19-12 edge in shots on goal.
- Saves: Denison's Julianne Henigan recorded 11 saves, while W&L's Iman Haddad finished with 8 stops.
- Draw Controls: W&L dominated the circle, 15-8, led by Emma Marsh's seven draw controls.
- Ground Balls: Both teams collected 15 ground balls, with Libby Ford and Sophia Caffrey leading W&L's efforts with two each on the defensive end.
- Clears: W&L successfully cleared 17-for-19 attempts and Denison 16-for-20.
W&L Leaders
DU Leaders
- Anna DeVuono led the Big Red with a hat trick, including the game-tying goal in the fourth quarter.
- Mary Martinson posted a goal and two assists, along with a team-high five draw controls.
- Maddie Chase and Addie Clift each recorded a goal and an assist.
- Goalkeeper Julianne Henigan had a great game between the pipes and made 11 saves to keep Denison within striking distance.
Up Next
Washington and Lee returns to the road on Tuesday, April 2, for an ODAC matchup at Virginia Wesleyan at 5 p.m.
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.
