Box Score LEXINGTON, Va. – In a tightly contested top-10 battle to open the 2026 season, No. 6 Franklin & Marshall held off No. 9 Washington and Lee, 7-6, on Sunday afternoon at Wilson Field.

The Diplomats (1-0) used two late fourth-quarter goals to break a 6-6 tie and spoil the Generals' (0-1) season debut in front of a large opening-weekend crowd despite the steady rain and cold conditions. The game featured six ties and four lead changes, with neither side leading by more than two goals. 

Game Summary

Washington and Lee struck first at the 6:18 mark of the opening quarter when Kelly Polacek found the back of the cage. Franklin & Marshall answered less than a minute later on a free-position goal by Annie Marshall, and the two teams traded defensive stands to close the period tied 1-1.

The Generals surged ahead in the second quarter with three unanswered goals. Lara Baki opened the frame with an unassisted tally, followed by a caused turnover off the ride and score from Betsy Clarke, who then assisted on a strike by Grace Kim to give W&L a 4-1 advantage.

Franklin & Marshall chipped away, scoring once late in the second and twice in the third, including the equalizer from Sophie Harris with 1:02 remaining in the third to knot the score at 4-4 heading into the final period. 

The fourth quarter saw continued back-and-forth action. Baki gave W&L a 5-4 lead early, and Hannah Van Son converted a free-position opportunity at 6:45 to put the Generals ahead 6-5. However, the Diplomats responded with two goals in a two-minute span, including a man-up strike by Alexandra Proefrock at 3:57, which proved to be the game-winner.

Washington and Lee had two late opportunities in the final 15 seconds, but a blocked shot and a wide attempt sealed the 7-6 result in favor of Franklin & Marshall. 

Individual Performances

• Lara Baki led W&L with two goals on eight shots, including the early fourth-quarter go-ahead score.
• Betsy Clarke posted a goal and an assist, while also recording a caused turnover.
• Kelly Polacek, Grace Kim, and Hannah Van Son each added one goal.
• Iman Haddad made 10 saves in goal to keep the Generals within striking distance throughout the contest. 
• For Franklin & Marshall, Alexandra Proefrock scored twice, including the decisive man-up goal, while Devyn Crone dished out four assists.
• Diplomats Goalkeeper, Sara DiGiovanni, recorded six saves in the win. 

By The Numbers

• Franklin & Marshall outshot Washington and Lee 25-20, including a 17-12 edge in shots on goal. 
• W&L goalkeeper Iman Haddad finished with 10 saves, compared to six for DiGiovanni. 
• The Diplomats held a 9-6 advantage in draw controls. 
• Franklin & Marshall collected 15 ground balls, while W&L secured 14. 
• The Generals went 16-for-21 on clears, while the Diplomats finished 14-for-19. 
• Franklin & Marshall converted 2-of-4 free-position attempts, while W&L went 1-of-2.

Up Next

Washington and Lee returns to action on the road Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, traveling to Guilford College for a 4 p.m. opening draw.
 

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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.