Washington, PA – Fresh off completing a historic season, the Transylvania women's lacrosse team prepares for this weekend's Ohio River Lacrosse Conference tournament as the 2-seed.
A program-record 13-game win streak highlighted Transylvania's successful season that began with a 14-2 win over Wilmington on March 7 after the Pioneers lost their first two matches of 2016.
Once on track, Transy was not defeated again until their last regular season contest that took place this past Sunday on April 24 against Washington & Jefferson, who secured first place in the ORLC with a narrow 10-8 victory. The battle between the top two teams on the final day of conference action lifted Washington & Jefferson to first place in conference at 8-0, with the Pioneers fitting into second place at 7-1.
By virtue of capturing the regular season conference crown, Washington & Jefferson College has earned the number one seed and hosting rights for this weekend's four-team Ohio River Lacrosse Conference Women's Championship Tournament.
The four-team championship tournament's semifinal matches will be contested on Friday, April 29, with the tournament's title match scheduled for Saturday, April 30.Matches will be played at W&J's Alexandre Stadium.
No. 2 seed Transylvania (13-3, 7-1 ORLC) will face No. 3 seed Saint Vincent College (7-9, 6-2 ORLC) in Friday's first semifinal matchup at 1 p.m. Top-seeded W&J (11-4, 8-0 ORLC) will take on No. 4 seed Mount St. Joseph University (7-8, 5-3 ORLC) in the second semifinal at 4 p.m.
The winners of Friday's semifinals will meet in the championship tournament title match Saturday at 5 p.m.
Should Transylvania advance out of Friday's semifinals against Saint Vincent, the team would put themselves in position to potentially earn an eagerly awaited rematch against the Presidents of Washington & Jefferson in Saturday's championship tilt.
Among a club full of talented players, the Pioneers are backed by sophomore attacker Julie Ward, senior midfielder Rachel Harrison, freshman defender Emma Oliver, and senior goalkeeper Lydia Shaughnessy.
Ward finished second in conference points with 76. Ward scored 58 goals, the third highest mark in the ORLC, and 18 assists, which ranks fourth among ORLC players.
Harrison led the league with 64 goals and tied Ward for second most shots of the season with 133.
Oliver defensively caused 32 turnovers throughout the season, more than anyone else on the Transylvania roster in that category.
Shaughnessy finished first in the ORLC with a goals-against average of 7.44, third in goals against with 106, and a top-five save percentage of 44.8.
Following a loss to Saint Vincent in last year's semifinals, the much-improved Pioneers will look to reach the finals this year by seeking their second win over the Bearcats after beating them 14-12 earlier this month on April 2.
Game time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. today at Alexandre Stadium.
Keep up with the Transylvania women's lacrosse team and all of their ORLC post season tournament action by following their official twitter @TransyWLax
