SEWANEE, Tenn. --- The ninth-ranked Washington and Lee women's lacrosse team opened NCAA Tournament play with a commanding 26-2 win over Transylvania University on Saturday afternoon at Sewanee: The University of the South, advancing to the second round for the 12th consecutive season.
The Generals (17-4) delivered a complete team performance, with 16 different players contributing goals in the program's highest NCAA Tournament output since 2018 when the Generals downed Cabrini 27-7. The +24 goal scoring margin from Saturday's win over Transylvania is a program NCAA tournament program record.
Washington and Lee wasted no time asserting control, scoring five goals in the first five minutes. W&L built a 18-2 lead by halftime, outshooting Transylvania 22-5 in the opening 30 minutes. The Generals added eight more goals in the second half to round out a 20-0 scoring run after the Pioneers scored at 5:02 in the opening stanza.
Individual Performance
- Hannah Van Son tallied a game-high four goals off five shots with a pair of ground balls.
- Payton Haley (3G, 1A) and Lara Baki (2G, 2A) both had four points in their first NCAA tournament action.
- Reedie Warwick dished out two assists.
- Brianna Benoit recorded her seventh multi-goal game of the season with a hat trick.
- Nora Hamilton and Betty Boatwright rounded out the multi-goal scorers with two each.
- Katie Reed and Cat Caples both grabbed four draw controls
By The Numbers
- Washington and Lee outshot Transylvania 37-6, including a 24-2 edge in shots on goal.
- The Generals nearly split control on the draw cirlce but edged the pioneers 17-14.
- W&L picked up 24 ground balls, compared to 7 for the Pioneers.
- Transylvania committed 19 turnovers, while W&L had just 8.
- The Generals were 16-of-16 on clears, and the Pioneers went 5-for10.
- W&L converted 5-of-5 free-position shots.
Transylvania Leaders
- Charlotte Green and TaNya Barbee scored one goal apiece for the Pioneers.
- Goalkeeper Grace Smilek-Edwards made three saves in the cage.
- Green also led Transylvania with six draw controls.
Up Next
Washington and Lee advances to face host Sewanee on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT in the NCAA Second Round. The Generals hold a 3-0 all-time record against the Tigers, including a win in their only previous NCAA postseason meeting.