The Washington and Lee women’s lacrosse team has turned their slow start into a hot streak, winning their last five games.

After starting the season with four straight losses, the Generals have improved to a 6-5 record, including a perfect 4-0 record in conference play.

The team’s success has been fueled by an outstanding attack unit. The Generals have averaged over 15 goals per game during the win streak.  Attacker Melissa Coggins, ‘16, leads the team with 27 points.  Two players, Jess Castelo, ’18, and Maddy Graves, ’19, lead the team in goals with 18 each.

“Our offense is really clicking now,” Coggins said in an interview with W&L Sports Weekly.  “We’re realizing each other’s strengths and how to work with one another.  We’re just doing what we do best.”

On the defensive side of the field, the team has seen terrific play from goalkeeper Ellie Aburn, ‘19. She leads the ODAC in average goals against, letting in fewer than eight goals per game.  While playing over 330 minutes, she has only allowed 44 goals into the back of the net.

The team struggled early in the season against tough non-conference opponents. Their difficulties were largely due to a lack of offensive production. In each of their losses, the Generals have only scored an average of 4.6 goals. In their wins, however, the Generals have averaged more than 15 goals per contest.

The team will face conference opponents for the rest of the season, where they look to keep up the success.

“We really want to secure our number one spot in the ODAC tournament,” Coggins said.  “We have to prepare to win whether the game is home or whether its away.”

The Generals were voted as the preseason champion in the ODAC and the team expects to make that a reality. The Generals have won the past six ODAC crowns.

The team returns to action to continue the streak on April 6 at home against Roanoke.