SEWANEE, Tenn. — The ninth-ranked Washington and Lee University women's lacrosse team begins its NCAA Division III Tournament campaign this weekend, facing a pair of South Region opponents on May 10 and 11 at Sewanee's Puett Field. The Generals (16-4) open the tournament against Transylvania University on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET. The winner of that matchup will take on host Sewanee, which earned a first-round bye, on Sunday at 3 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. ET. W&L holds a 1-0 all-time series lead over Transylvania and is 3-0 historically against Sewanee.

Washington and Lee enters the national tournament on the heels of capturing its 25th ODAC Championship with a decisive 14-6 victory over Shenandoah last Sunday at Watt Field. Energized by a strong Alumni Weekend crowd, the Generals dominated the final 30 minutes after a 6-4 halftime lead, outscoring the Hornets 8-2 down the stretch. A third-quarter hat trick goal from Lara Baki ignited a 4-1 run, while Sophie Edwards and Claire Horner netted key fourth-quarter goals to seal the win.

Opponent Preview: Transylvania Pioneers (8-9)

Transylvania punched its NCAA ticket with a commanding 19-3 victory over Anderson University in the Heartland Collegiate Lacrosse Conference title game. First-year head coach Brianna McCulley guided the Pioneers to an undefeated conference season and the league's automatic NCAA bid. In the championship, TaNya Barbee led the way with five goals, while Charlotte Green and Sofie Garrett each added four. Avery Kirkhope dished out four assists, and Grace Smilek-Edwards made seven saves in a complete-game effort.

The Generals and Transylvania play at 1 p.m. CT/ 2 p.m. ET on Puett Field.

Offensively, Transylvania is averaging 12.41 goals per game, with Green (44g, 10a) and Garrett (43g, 11a) sharing the team lead at 54 points apiece. Barbee adds 31 goals and 15 assists, rounding out a trio responsible for much of the scoring punch. Additional firepower comes from Kirkhope (24g, 18a), Lula Thompson (24g), and Diana Bruder (22g). Defensively, the Pioneers allow 12.17 goals per game and have forced 113 turnovers while collecting 316 ground balls and 255 draw controls. Smilek-Edwards carries a 12.80 goals-against average and a .348 save percentage.

Second-Round Host: Sewanee Tigers (17-0)

Sewanee enters the tournament as one of just a handful of unbeaten teams in the country. The Tigers claimed their third Southern Athletic Association title and first since 2014 with a 10-7 win over Rhodes. Kennedy Harcourt scored twice in the opening minute and completed her hat trick just before halftime to help Sewanee pull away. Additional goals from Brooke Sigmon, Marlin Price, Morgan Boylan, and Sofia Bean propelled the Tigers to victory.

Sewanee is averaging 16.71 goals per game while allowing just 5.59, making them one of the most balanced teams in the field. Senior Marlin Price leads with 62 goals and 24 assists, while Herrington (49g, 19a) and Sigmon (38g, 26a) round out an elite scoring trio. The defense has caused 270 turnovers and completes clears at an 86.1% rate. In goal, junior Lilly Jordan has a 6.05 GAA and a .351 save percentage in 16 starts, backed by senior Caroline Colbath (3.07 GAA).

On Sunday, May 11 and a 3 p.m. CT/ 4 p.m. ET start time predicted, Sewanee will take on the winner of the Transylvania/W&L matchup.

BY THE NUMBERS

Statistic	W&L	Sewanee	Transy
Goals Per Game	15.150	16.710	12.410
Goals Allowed Per Game	7.25	5.59	12.0
Shot Percentage	0.506	0.495	0.462
Shots on Goal %	0.761	0.747	0.792
Draw Controls	295	273	255
Caused Turnovers	216	270	113
Ground Balls	347	391	316
Clear Percentage	0.848	0.861	0.685
Goalie Save Percentage	0.436	0.354	0.354

W&L Offensive Firepower

The Generals' attack is led by Hannah Van Son, who paces the team with 54 goals and adds a physical presence with 19 ground balls and 17 draw controls. She's complemented by ODAC Rookie of the Year Lara Baki, who burst onto the scene with 43 goals and 51 total points, posting an impressive .808 shots-on-goal percentage. Junior attacker Sophie Edwards adds creative playmaking from behind the net with 24 goals and 21 assists, making her one of the most balanced threats in the lineup.

W&L Midfield Dominance

Emma Marsh, a junior midfielder and All-ODAC First Team selection, anchors the midfield with 23 goals, 12 assists, and a team-leading 72 draw controls. She's joined by Betty Boatwright, a Second Team honoree known for her two-way play. Boatwright has contributed 11 goals, 18 caused turnovers, 24 ground balls, and 34 draw controls, offering steady production on both ends of the field.

W&L Elite Defense

Libby Ford, the ODAC Defensive Player of the Year, leads a defense that has allowed just 145 goals all season. She tops the team with 36 caused turnovers and 56 ground balls while starting all 20 games. Fellow senior captain Cat Caples has also been instrumental, recording 69 draw controls, 24 caused turnovers, and 32 ground balls. Senior Sophia Caffery provides another core member on the defensive end with significant experiences with 60 games under her belt and 38 starts over the last two years.  In the crease, Iman Haddad has been a reliable presence in her first year as the starting goalkeeper, registering 109 saves and holding opponents to under nine goals per game.
 

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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.