LEXINGTON, Va. – The 10th-ranked Washington and Lee women's lacrosse team, the top seed in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament, will host No. 5 seed Shenandoah University in the ODAC Semifinals on Friday evening at Watt Field. Opening draw is set for 6 p.m.
Washington and Lee (13-4, 8-0 ODAC) secured its 12th consecutive undefeated conference season and enters postseason play as the No. 1 seed for the 12th straight year. The Generals have not lost a regular-season ODAC contest since April 2013, compiling a 105-0 record in league play during that stretch.
About the Generals
Washington and Lee enters the postseason as one of the most complete teams in the ODAC, ranking second in scoring (14.53 goals per game) while leading the conference in goals-against average (7.07) and ranking second in save percentage (.487).
The Generals' balanced attack is led by
Lara Baki (2.69 goals per game) and
Hannah Van Son (2.35 gpg), while
Kelly Polacek anchors the offense as one of the ODAC's top facilitators (31 assists, 1.82 per game; 59 points). W&L's efficiency (.505 shooting percentage) has been a defining strength throughout the season.
On the defensive end, the Generals average 10.0 caused turnovers per game and are anchored in goal by
Iman Haddad, who carries a .491 save percentage into the postseason.
Who to Watch
- Kelly Polacek — The engine of the Generals' offense. Polacek ranks among ODAC leaders with 31 assists (1.82 per game) and 59 points, making her the primary facilitator against a Shenandoah defense that thrives on forcing turnovers. Her ability to manage possessions will be critical against the conference's lowest turnover team.
- Lara Baki — W&L's top goal-scoring threat (2.69 goals per game). Baki's ability to finish in settled offense could be the difference against a Shenandoah defense that allows over 9 goals per game.
- Iman Haddad — One of the top goalkeepers in the ODAC. Haddad's .491 save percentage and 8.00 GAA will be tested by a Shenandoah attack with multiple high-volume scorers. If she controls the cage, W&L controls the game.
About the Hornets
Shenandoah (12-7, 5-3 ODAC) enters Friday's semifinal as one of the conference's most disciplined and efficient teams. The Hornets rank fifth in scoring (13.21 goals per game) and lead the ODAC in fewest turnovers per game (12.16).
Offensively, Shenandoah is powered by Emily Ransom (51 goals, 2.68 gpg) and Ayla Jantz (48 goals), while Natalie Opatovsky ranks among the league leaders in assists (29) and points (57). The Hornets also control possession effectively, averaging 13.11 draw controls per game.
Who To Watch
- Emily Ransom — The Hornets' primary scoring threat (2.68 goals per game, 59 points). Ransom drives Shenandoah's offense and thrives in transition, making her a key matchup against W&L's defensive unit.
- Ayla Jantz — A balanced offensive weapon (48 goals, 58 points). Jantz complements Ransom and gives Shenandoah a second consistent scoring option, particularly in settled sets.
- Natalie Opatovsky — One of the ODAC's top facilitators (29 assists, 1.53 per game). Her ability to distribute and create scoring opportunities makes her central to Shenandoah's offensive rhythm.
How Each Team Got Here
Washington and Lee (No. 1 Seed)
- Earned a bye into the semifinals
- Completed an 8-0 conference record
- Leads the ODAC in scoring defense and ranks among the top teams in both offense and possession
Shenandoah (No. 5 Seed)
- Defeated No. 8 Guilford in the opening round
- Defeated No. 4 Lynchburg, 14-6, in the quarterfinals
- Outscored opponents behind balanced offense and forced 11 turnovers in the quarterfinal win
Keys to the Game
- Defensive Pressure vs. Ball Security
- W&L thrives on caused turnovers (10.0 per game), while Shenandoah leads the league in ball security, just 12.16 turnovers per game, this clash will define momentum.
- W&L leads the ODAC in scoring defense with the fewest goals allowed (7.07)
- Shenandoah leads the ODAC in fewest turnovers (12.16 per game)
- Control the Draw Circle
- With both teams ranking among the top five in draw controls, winning possessions will be critical in dictating pace.
- W&L: 13.65 per game (2nd in ODAC)
- Shenandoah: 13.11 per game (5th)
- Scoring Efficiency
- Both teams shoot above .490—capitalizing on limited opportunities in what should be a defensive battle will decide the outcome.
- W&L: .505 shooting percentage
- Shenandoah: .492 shooting percentage
The Last Matchup
On April 8, Washington and Lee women's lacrosse team earned a 10-6 Old Dominion Athletic Conference victory over Shenandoah University
W&L and SU traded momentum throughout a tightly contested first half. The Generals struck first at 11:43 as
Lara Baki scored unassisted, but Shenandoah answered less than a minute later on a player-up goal from Emily Ransom to tie the game.
W&L responded with a quick 2-0 run, as
Katie Reed and
Sophie Edwards scored less than 70 seconds apart, the latter coming on a player-up opportunity, to give the Generals a 3-1 advantage. Shenandoah cut the deficit to one on a goal from Natalie Opatovsky, but
Kelly Polacek answered in the final 30 seconds of the quarter to give W&L a 4-2 lead after one.
The Hornets continued to apply pressure in the second quarter, as Ransom opened the scoring to make it 4-3. Washington and Lee responded with back-to-back goals from
Hannah Van Son and
Emma Marsh to extend the lead to 6-3, but SU answered again late in the half on Ransom's third goal to send the teams into the break with W&L leading 6-4.
W&L created separation in the third quarter. Baki opened the scoring off a feed from
Hannah Russell, and after Opatovsky brought the Hornets back within two, Marsh responded with a late Blue and White goal to push the lead to 8-5 heading into the fourth.
The Generals put the game out of reach early in the final period, as Baki scored twice in a three-minute span to extend the advantage to 10-5. Shenandoah added a late player-up goal from Opatovsky, but WLU maintained control down the stretch to secure the 10-6 victory.
By The Numbers
- Lara Baki led all scorers with four goals.
- Six Generals tallied scores on the night with Emma Marsh adding a pair of goals off two attempts.
- Kelly Polacek dished out a team-high two assists with a goal.
- Betty Boatwright registered a team-best four draw controls and four caused turner overs to add to a pair of ground balls.
- Sophomores Russell and Dagny Tombaugh led the defensive effort with a team-high ground ball totals with five each and Haddad made five stops to earn the win.
- Washington and Lee outshot Shenandoah, 27-17, including a 15-9 edge in the first half.
- The Generals held advantages in ground balls (24-20) and draw controls (11-7).
- W&L was efficient in transition, going 16-for-18 on clears and stifled the Hornets attempts to advance into their scoring area, 17-25.
- The Generals forced 17-of-20 SU turnovers, disrupting Shenandoah's offensive rhythm throughout the game.
- Shenandoah was led by Natalie Opatovsky and Emily Ransom, who combined for all six goals (3 each).
- Alya Jantz grabbed four draws for the visitors and registered on of two assists
Around the Bracket
The opposite semifinal features No. 2 Randolph-Macon hosting No. 3 Roanoke. Roanoke advanced with a 22-7 quarterfinal win over Bridgewater, powered by Maddie McDonald, who leads the ODAC in scoring at 4.50 goals per game.
Randolph-Macon enters as one of the conference's most efficient teams, leading the ODAC in shot percentage (.538) and save percentage (.506).
Up Next
The winner of Friday's semifinal will advance to the ODAC Championship game on Sunday, May 3, to face the winner of the Randolph-Macon vs. Roanoke matchup. The contest will take place on campus at the highest-remaining seed.
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.
