LYNCHBURG, Va. --- The Hornets have stood on this podium before...many times. In fact, more than any other team in conference history.

The University of Lynchburg returned to its familiar perch atop the ODAC field hockey ranks on Sunday afternoon as the Hornets claimed a 3-1 victory over Washington and Lee University to wrap up the first spring field hockey championship in league history. The Hornets win marks their third straight and ODAC record 21st overall conference field hockey title.

RELATED: ODAC All-Time Field Hockey Championships

The even pairing between Lynchburg and Washington and Lee was evident very early as the teams took to the turf at Lynchburg's Shellenberger Field. Neither program found its way on to the scoreboard in the opening 15 minutes of play. The Generals had the best opportunity as the clock neared 10-minutes complete with Grace Weise steering a pair of shots towards the Hornets cage with keeper Laurel Nicks stopping the first before Hayden Shockley came up with a defensive save on the second.

Lynchburg's newly installed video board remained idle until just before the halftime horn. Brittany Claybaugh gave the Hornets the advantage with an unassisted tally in the 28th minute. The goal marked Claybaugh's fifth of the season and third in two tournament games following a pair of scores in the semifinals against Shenandoah University.

Stout defense characterized the third frame, again with neither team finding a way past Nicks or W&L keeper Sara Amil. In fact, there were only four shots attempted in the entire period.

The remaining goals of the game came in a flurry at the outset of the final stanza. Just 19-seconds after the opening whistle of the fourth quarter sounded, Emily Yanes made in 2-0 Lynchburg with a nifty waist-high door-step finish off a feed from Emily Dudley.

Washington and Lee did not take long to respond with the Generals cutting Lynchburg's lead in half less than two minutes later. Grace Amaden registered her ODAC-best 12th goal of the season off a pass from Emma Gatrell in the 48th minute, her first assist of the season.

The Yanes and Dudley combination struck again exactly one minute later, effectively sealing Lynchburg's championship result. Yanes registered her second goal of the game and fifth of the campaign off a dish from Dudley. That marked Dudley's third helper of the year.

Lynchburg's Nicks finished the game with five saves, while W&L's Amil made seven stops. W&L posted 13 over shots compared to 12 by the Hornets, while Lynchburg led in penalty corners earned, 7-3.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Emily Wooten, Roanoke College
Alexis Wright, Roanoke College
Kelsey Jones, Shenandoah University
Isabella Morande, Shenandoah University
Grace Amaden, Washington and Lee University
Sara Amil, Washington and Lee University
Tess Muneses, Washington and Lee University
Alexis Brown, University of Lynchburg
Brittany Claybaugh, University of Lynchburg
Emily Dudley, University of Lynchburg
Kessa Romero, University of Lynchburg