
LEXINGTON, VA- Forward Allie Espina scored the game-winning goal with under three minutes left to play Wednesday afternoon as the second-seeded Washington & Lee University women's soccer team defeated #3 Lynchburg College 2-1 in the semifinals of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Championship Tournament.
Lynchburg struck first at the 24:18 mark of the first half, after junior forward Betsy Kwiatkowski (Mount Jackson, VA/Stonewall Jackson) was tripped in the box. Senior midfielder Ashley Hoath (Alexandria, VA/Mount Vernon) netted the subsequent penalty kick to give the Hornets a 1-0 lead. The Generals quickly counterattacked and evened the score two minutes later as Katheryne Lawson found Maggie Sutherland for the tally.
The score remained tied until 87:29, as Espina tapped in a cross from Katie Howard to put W&L ahead for good. The Hornets controlled the game in both major statistical categories, 15-8 in shots and 9-2 in corner kicks. Emily Leary made six stops for Washington & Lee, while Anna Wright (Ashland, VA/Patrick Henry) had five saves.
The Hornets (14-3-3), the winners of the 2007 and 2008 conference titles, now await a possible at large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. W&L (16-1-2) awaits the winner of the Virginia Wesleyan/Roanoke College game played later today.
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