Four Generals Earn All-State Women's Soccer Honors

LEXINGTON, Va. – The Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) announced its 2009 College Division All-State women’s soccer team on Friday as voted on by the membership. Washington and Lee had four players honored on the first or second teams.

Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Leary (Cincinnati, Ohio/Kings) was named to the first team, while sophomore defender Kat Lawson (White Post, Va./Clarke County), sophomore forward Allie Espina (Gaithersburg, Md./Good Counsel) and senior midfielder Maggie Sutherland (Pittsburgh, Pa./Sewickley Academy) were named to the second team.

Leary earned First Team All-State laurels for the first time in her career. She was the recipient of second team All-America honors in addition to being named the ODAC Player of the Year. She also collected First Team All-ODAC and First Team NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region laurels. Leary played in 21 games with 20 starts and posted a 15-2-3 record. She logged an impressive 0.54 goals-against average, allowing only 11 goals in over 1,835 minutes of play, and posting an .833 (55 saves) save percentage. Leary posted the second-best shutout total (13) and third-best goals-against average (0.54) in program history.

Lawson became the first-ever W&L women’s soccer player to be named a First Team All-American in 2009. She was also named to the First Team All-ODAC and NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region squads in her first season with the Generals. A transfer from Colgate, Lawson started all 22 matches and was a part of the Generals’ defense that allowed only 11 goals, while posting an impressive 0.50 goals-against average and 16 shutouts for the season. She also had three points, notching one goal and one assist.

Espina was named to the second team squad in addition to receiving First Team All-ODAC and NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region honors on the year. She saw action in 21 games with 19 starts at forward. She led the team in points (26) and goals scored (12), to go along with a pair of assists.  Espina recorded four multiple-goal games and five game-winning goals to lead the team.

A team captain, Sutherland played in all 22 games in the midfield this season, starting 20 of those contests and finished third on the team in scoring with a career-high 19 points (9 g, 1 a). Sutherland added to her recognitions from VaSID, as she was recognized as the VaSID Rookie of the Year in 2006. A two-time First Team All-ODAC honoree, she also garnered First Team NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region this season, Second Team NSCAA All-South Atlantic laurels last season and was named the ODAC Rookie of the Year en route to posting Second Team All-ODAC honors in 2006.  Sutherland played in 83 career games with 77 starts and completed her career with 33 points on 15 goals and three assists.

Washington and Lee completed the 2009 campaign with a 17-2-3 overall record and a 9-0-2 mark in the ODAC, while claiming the third ODAC Championship in program history. The Generals advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament, defeating Christopher Newport in the first round before falling to Lynchburg College in the second round.

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