No. 8 Women’s Lacrosse Captures 24th ODAC Crown, 11-10 Over Roanoke
LEXINGTON, Va. – The eighth-ranked Washington and Lee University women’s lacrosse team captured its 14th consecutive Old Dominion Athletic Conference trophy with an 11-10 win over 13th-ranked Roanoke on Sunday afternoon.
The team’s 28th appearance in the title game was a nail-biter for all 60 minutes on Alston Parker Watt Field but the Generals’ (16-3) defense held off the Maroons (15-4) to claim the 24th ODAC Championship in program history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Roanoke took an early 1-0 lead with two minutes off the opening draw but the Blue and White responded with five unanswered scores.
Seniors Hanna Bishop (2), Alex Petras (2) and Walker McKnight were responsible for the five goals and the defense made numerous stops to build the lead before conceding a 7-on-6 free-position goal at 3:43 by Tracey Benzing.
Grace Koutouzis ended the period with an unassisted Maroons goal to bring RC back within two scores. The visitors capped the first break with a Libby Bowman score 44 seconds into the second quarter.
The two squads split the six goals in the second quarter. To end the half, W&L capitalized on a pair of player-up opportunities with scores from Sophie Edwards and Petras found the back of the net from the left hash to go up 8-6. RC tied up the score at 6-6 in the first half and then again at 9-9 in the third.
Bishop scored what would be the nail in the coffin at the close of the third. Her unassisted tally with 0:03 on the clock gave WLU a 10-9 lead heading to the final frame.
With the one-goal advantage, pace slowed and the two teams split just a pair of goals final stanza goals. Roanoke registered the last shot of the game, an attempt to tie it up, 11-all with 31 seconds left. Kate Loughran was stuffed by goalie Caroline Kranich and the Generals ran out the clock to capture the trophy.
BY THE NUMBERS
- W&L outshot RC 43-25.
- The Maroons were 17-of-20 on clearing attempts and turned the ball over a total of 13 times.
- The Generals were nearly perfect in clearing, 19-of-20, and turned the ball over on just six occasions.
- The Blue and White owned an 18-9 advantage in ground balls and edged RC in draw controls, 13-12.
- Roanoke converted 4-of-7 free-position shots and limited W&L to 1-of-5 successful conversions.
W&L LEADERS
- Bishop led W&L in points with four goals and a pair of assists. Bishop grabbed a pair of ground balls and caused a turnover on the ride.
- Petras had a hat trick and added four ground balls off of shooting attempts.
- Defender Eugenie Rovegno grabbed three ground balls, two caused turnovers and led the game with seven draw controls.
- Kranich made 10 stops for the Blue and White.
RC LEADERS
- Grace Koutouzis led RC in points with a goal and a pair of assists.
- Loughran and Maddie McDonald tallied a pair of scores. Nicole Harrison recorded two points off a goal and one assist.
- Harrison grabbed a pair of ground balls and three draw controls.
- Sopha Chickering led RC in draws with five total.
- Kyleigh Chickering made 15 stops in the crease for the Maroons.
All-Tournament Team
- Randolph-Macon: Rachel Gibson
- Randolph-Macon: Rianna Lowery
- Shenandoah: Ainsley Buckner
- Shenandoah: Julianna Fohner
- Roanoke: LIbby Bowman
- Roanoke: Kyleigh Chickering
- Roanoke: Sydney Harrison
- Washington and Lee: Libby Ford
- Washington and Lee: Caroline Foster
- Washington and Lee: Caroline Kranich
- Washington and Lee: Alex Petras
- Washington and Lee: Eugenie Rovegno
UP NEXT
Washington and Lee earned the ODAC’s automatic entry to the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship. The 46-team bracket is slated to be announced on Monday at 10:30 a.m. ET via selection show on NCAA.com.
