WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University field hockey team begins ODAC Tournament play Friday night with a 7 p.m. tournament semi-final round contest versus No. 3 Washington & Lee.
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Second-seeded Shenandoah, 14-3, downed the 10-7 Generals, 2-1, last Wednesday evening to secure second place in the league and the accompanying quarterfinal round bye in the ODAC Tournament.
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The win, coupled with Washington & Lee's 3-1 victory over sixth-seeded Bridgewater on Tuesday in the ODAC Tournament quarterfinals, sets up the sixth-ever ODAC Tournament contest between the two programs.
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This game, along with Saturday's 6 p.m. championship, will be played at Shellenberger Field on the University of Lynchburg campus.
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SU and W&L have met in the last four ODAC Tournaments with the Hornets winning in 2018 and 2016 and the Generals in 2017 and 2015.
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The all-time series between the two programs is tied at 7-7 and the two teams have split the last 10 meetings.
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In the regular season meeting this year,
Megan Stevens tallied off of a
Kelsey Jones assist with 42 seconds remaining to give Shenandoah the 2-1, home victory.
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Last season, the Hornets rebounded from a 5-2 regular season loss to win 1-0 over the Generals in the ODAC Tournament semi-finals.
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Now-senior
Maddie Price scored off a
Kayla Alderman '19 feed 3:18 into the sudden victory overtime to earn the win. Price' goal sent Shenandoah into just its second-ever championship game appearance.
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Sophomore
Kelsey Jones, the 2018 ODAC Rookie of the Year, leads Shenandoah in scoring with nine goals and a nation-leading 21 assists for 39 points.
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Jones is fourth in the league in scoring with senior teammate
Taylor Hayes, a three-time All-ODAC honoree and the 2016 ODAC Rookie of the Year, fifth with 34 points.
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Hayes has a fifth-best-in-league 13 goals this season.
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SU leads the league in scoring at 3.6 points per game with W&L fifth at 2.2. Defensively, the two teams are tops in the league as Shenandoah gives up just 0.92 goals per contest and the Generals 1.05 GAA.
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Senior Lauren Paolano leads Washington & Lee in scoring with 19 points on nine goals and one assist with sophomore Grace Weise posting seven goals and four assists for 18 points.
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In the goal,
Isabella Morande has a 0.95 goals against average and five shutouts for the Hornets and Sara Amil a 1.05 GAA and seven shutouts for the Generals. Amil has played every second of the season in goal for her team this season.
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The winner meets the victor of the No. 1 Lynchburg versus No. 5 Roanoke semi-final round winner in Saturday's championship game.
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