Washington and Lee Women’s Lacrosse climbed four spots to No. 6 after upsetting two top 10 opponents.
The Generals beat No. 5 York on March 14 in overtime, with a final score of 13-12. Just a little over a week later, the team won 11-10 against No. 7 Gettysburg.
Against York, attacker Hannah Van Son, ’27, scored the game-winning goal in overtime to reach six goals in the game. She controlled eight draws, helping the Generals secure the victory.
“This is why we play,” Van Son said. “We’re so excited to have the opportunity to be in these moments.”
Van Son was named the USA Lacrosse Magazine and Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Division III co-offensive player of the week following her performance against Gettysburg. It marked her first weekly honors from both associations.
Attackers Lara Baki, ’28, and Van Son lead the team in goals this season. Baki has 37, with Van Son just behind her with 36. The team has scored 209 goals this season.
“You can go into a game thinking ‘Oh, they’re supposed to be better than us,’” Van Son said. “Or you can think about it as a chance to show everyone in the lacrosse world that we are a top-10 team and that we can play with anyone on any given day.”
The Generals’ confidence is rooted in their motto, “invicta,” which means “united as one.”
They also embrace another motto, “I am third.”
“You put the team program, your teammates and the alumni before yourself,” Van Son said. She said it is a mindset they live by every day and that thinking this way is necessary in high-pressure situations.
The team’s joy and investment in success have translated into their performance on the field, Van Son said. The team’s trust in each other was tested in their game against York, when they trailed late in the game.
“We have plays for certain situations,” Van Son said, noting that they were “just doing what they always do.”
Washington and Lee used the same approach in their upset win against Gettysburg, where the Generals asserted their dominance late in the game.
Baki said the key to their success was their mentality.
“We went in with such high energy,” she said. “We’ve had so many conversations in the past about how to handle those high-pressure moments and what we need to do individually to reset.”
Baki said that the team relies on each other more than ever during these situations.
“My teammates know my playing style super well,” Baki said. “They are able to root me in stressful moments. We celebrate the little things, and I feel like it helps us go a long way.”
Van Son and Baki pointed to their preparation, including studying film and practicing mindfulness, as important contributors to their recent success.
The Generals continue their season on a nine-game winning streak with conference aspirations ahead. They are 12-2 on the season and undefeated in ODAC play. Before the conference tournament, they will face Lynchburg, No. 10 Denison, and No. 12 William Smith College.
Baki said the team is focused on “coming in hot” for non-conference matchups in order to host ODAC games.
Van Son said she has big goals for the rest of the season.
“I would really like to go undefeated in the ODAC regular season, win ODACs and hopefully compete for a national championship,” she said.
