VIRGINIA BEACH -- An aggressive offense that failed to slow down collided with an alert defense that refused to quit Sunday.

The combination resulted in a hard-fought 3-0 victory for the undefeated Washington College Shorewomen against the host Virginia Wesleyan College Marlins. Sunday's non-conference game was played at Norfolk Academy due to wet field conditions at VWC.

Washington (5-0) posted all of the advantages in the offensive numbers, led by hard-hitting efforts from Alli Dudley (New Windsor, Md./Francis Scott Key), Katie Arnold (Hockessin, Del./Wilmington Christian), and Jackie O'Connell (Northampton, Pa./Northampton).

Virginia Wesleyan (2-4) found itself protecting its goal through the majority of the game, but one player after another stepped up to help keep Washington out of the cage. Tanya Puccio (Moorpark, Calif./Moorpark),Jenny Wilkins (Chesapeake/Virginia Beach Bishop Sullivan Catholic), Danielle Benn (West Creek, N.J./Pinelands), and Morgan Lee (Virginia Beach/Bayside) were among the Marlins to come up with big stops, but the defensive effort focused on goalie Lindsay Baker (Havertown, Pa./Haverford).

As Washington fired one solid shot after another, Baker made the moves to stop most of them, including several just a few feet away from the cage.  He most dramatic save took place with 9:43 remaining in the first half when a hard swing by Washington's Jenn Miller (Westminster, Md./North Carroll) sent the ball flying high toward the top of the cage.  Baker leaped up to meet the ball before it could slip under the crossbar and sent it flying over the top of the cage.

Baker's effort resulted in 15 saves, a career-high.

Grace Phillips (Stafford/Colonial Forge) put the Shorewomen on the scoreboard in the 10th minute off an assist from Elizabeth Davis (Earleville, Md./Bohemia Manor). Washington took a 2-0 lead in the 26th minute when Jennifer Tordella (New Castle, Del./William Penn) put the ball into the cage off a pass from Phillips. Washington scored its lone second half goal in the 64th minute as Miller scored in the left corner, assisted by O'Connell.

Virginia Wesleyan competes again on Saturday, Sept. 20, and Sunday, Sept. 21, in South Carolina against a pair of Division II foes, Newberry College and Limestone College.  Both games begin at noon.

--AMDG--