GREENSBORO, N.C. – Despite a tally from
Emma Garland (Hampstead, N.C.) and a gritty defensive effort in the backfield, the Guilford College women's lacrosse team (0-2, 0-1 ODAC) dropped its home and conference opener to Washington & Lee University (1-1, 1-0 ODAC), 24-1, on Tuesday afternoon at Appenzeller Field.
Marlene Nusraty (Damascus, Md.) remained resilient in the cage for the Quakers, turning away eight shots against a persistent Washington & Lee attack.
The Generals were led by Sophie Edwards, who sparked the offense with a hat trick. Payton Haley turned in a versatile performance with two goals, an assist, four ground balls, and three caused turnovers, while Alexandra Simon, Hannah Van Son, and Betsy Clarke each notched two goals in the victory.
For Guilford, Garland led the way with three draw controls.
Carm DeFeo (Shelton, Conn.) and
Brenna Holden (Kernersville, N.C.) also contributed to the possession battle, with DeFeo scooping up a ground ball and Holden securing a draw control in the fourth quarter.
The Quaker backline was anchored by
Natalia Rubio (Greensboro, N.C.) and
Kaylee Carr (Plant City, Fla.), who both turned in active defensive performances. Rubio recorded a ground ball and a caused turnover, while Carr added a ground ball pickup of her own to help disrupt the Generals' transition game. Additionally,
Kylie Wood (Greensboro, N.C.) was a bright spot on the defensive end, leading the team with two caused turnovers.
After being held scoreless through the first three quarters by a stout Washington & Lee defense, Guilford found the back of the net in the final frame. With 4:45 remaining in the contest, Garland took matters into her own hands, firing an unassisted shot past the Generals' keeper, Hailey Sarno. The goal marked a significant milestone for the program, serving as the first goal the Quakers have scored against the perennially top-ranked Generals since the 2023 season.
The Quakers will remain in Greensboro for their next contest as they look to bounce back in non-conference play, returning to the Armfield Athletic Center on Wednesday, February 25th, to host Methodist University. The opening draw is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
#GoQuakes
