LEXINGTON, Va. — The No. 19 Washington and Lee University field hockey team snapped a six-game losing streak against No. 18 Shenandoah University with a 2-0 victory in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference opener Saturday afternoon at W&L Turf Field.
The Generals (6-3, 1-0 ODAC) earned their first victory over the Hornets since a 5-2 win on Oct. 26, 2022, when then-No. 18 W&L upset then-No. 14 Shenandoah in Lexington. Saturday's result also marked Washington and Lee's third over a nationally ranked opponent this season.
Senior
Zoe Dolfis provided the eventual game-winner in the eighth minute before
Margaret Scheurer added an insurance goal early in the fourth quarter. W&L finished with an 18-10 advantage in shots and a 10-3 edge in shots on goal, while
Helenka Chodakiewicz stopped all three attempts she faced to record the shutout.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- W&L opened the scoring at the 7:36 mark after Zoe Dolfis intercepted a Shenandoah clearing attempt and capitalized on the turnover, finding the cage for an unassisted goal and a 1-0 Generals lead.
- The Generals held Shenandoah without a shot on goal during the opening half while generating seven attempts of their own. W&L put three shots on cage during the second quarter, but Hornets goalkeeper Cassidy Alexander stopped all three to keep the margin at one entering halftime.
- Washington and Lee continued to pressure the Shenandoah cage in the third quarter, recording five shots. Charlotte Dreany, Anna Treese and Margaret Cover each forced saves from Alexander, while Chodakiewicz turned away Shenandoah's lone shot on goal in the period.
- W&L doubled its lead just 1:09 into the fourth quarter. On a penalty corner, the insertion went directly to Margaret Scheurer on the right side of the scoring circle. Scheurer took a touch to her right to evade a defender before sending her shot across the cage and inside the far left post for an unassisted goal and a 2-0 advantage.
- The Hornets created their two best scoring chances in the second half, having a goal called back and another attempt strike the post.
- Shenandoah generated six penalty corners and seven shots in the final period, but the Generals' defense preserved the shutout. Helenka Chodakiewicz made two fourth-quarter saves, including one with 1:34 remaining, to keep the Hornets off the scoreboard.
-
TOP W&L PERFORMERS
- Zoe Dolfis scored the game-winning goal at 7:36, turning an interception of a Shenandoah clearing attempt into the Generals' opening tally.
- Margaret Scheurer provided W&L's second goal and led the team with four shots, including three on goal.
- Helenka Chodakiewicz made three saves to record the shutout and improved to 5-3 in goal this season.
- Margaret Cover placed both of her shots on cage, while eight different Generals recorded at least one shot on goal.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 1,438 — Days since W&L's last victory over Shenandoah, a 5-2 win over the then-No. 14 Hornets on Oct. 26, 2022.
- 18-10 — Washington and Lee's advantage in total shots, including a 12-3 margin through the first three quarters.
- 10-3 — The Generals' advantage in shots on goal.
- 7-0 — W&L's advantage in shots during the opening half.
- 8-7 — Shenandoah held a narrow advantage in penalty corners after generating six during the fourth quarter.
- 2-0 — Washington and Lee's record against nationally ranked opponents this season, with wins over then-No. 9 Dickinson and No. 19 Shenandoah.
- 1-0 — The Generals' record in ODAC play following Saturday's conference opener.
SHENANDOAH LEADERS
- Camryn DeLeva led the Hornets with six shots and placed two attempts on goal.
- Kaitlyn Nakamura accounted for Shenandoah's other shot on cage.
- Cassidy Alexander made eight saves across 60 minutes in goal.
- The Hornets generated eight penalty corners, with six coming during the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
Washington and Lee continues ODAC play Wednesday, Oct. 7, when the Generals travel to Roanoke College for a 7 p.m. contest.
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.
