The Batten University field hockey team concluded its 2026 season, falling to No. 19 Washington and Lee University, 4-0, in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action. Despite the result, the Marlins finished the year with a 7-11 overall record and a 2-6 mark in conference play, showing improvement from the previous season.
No. 19 Washington and Lee (12-4, 7-1 ODAC) opened the scoring just 1:35 into the contest as Britty Page found the back of the cage off an assist from Emma Wirth. The Generals continued to apply offensive pressure throughout the opening quarter, but Batten goalkeeper Berkley Miller stood strong, recording three saves to keep the Marlins within striking distance. Isabelle Rogers registered Batten's first shot of the afternoon in the 11th minute, but her attempt was blocked by the Washington and Lee defense.
The Generals extended their advantage to 2-0 in the second quarter when Zoe Dolfis scored an unassisted goal in the 19th minute. Miller continued her strong performance between the pipes, making two additional saves during the period. Batten generated an opportunity late in the first half when Landry Meyer placed a shot on goal in the 29th minute, but Washington and Lee goalkeeper Helenka Chodakiewicz made the save to preserve the shutout heading into halftime.
Washington and Lee added another goal in the third quarter as Dolfis scored her second of the afternoon in the 40th minute. Despite facing 14 shots during the period, Miller delivered an impressive defensive effort, collecting seven saves to help limit the Generals' scoring opportunities. Dolfis completed her hat trick in the fourth quarter, scoring in the 50th minute off an assist from Charlotte Dreany to bring the final score to 4-0.
Miller finished the afternoon with 13 saves across 60 minutes of action, highlighting a determined defensive effort by the Marlins. Meyer and Rogers accounted for Batten's two shots, with Meyer placing her attempt on goal.
Looking Back at the 2026 Season
Despite Saturday's result, the Marlins have plenty of positives to build upon following an encouraging 2026 campaign under second-year head coach Baylor Baxley. Batten improved its overall record from 5-11 in 2025 to 7-11 in 2026, earning two additional victories while demonstrating increased competitiveness throughout the season. Four of the Marlins' 11 losses came in overtime or shootout situations, illustrating just how close the team was to potentially turning several hard-fought contests into victories. The ability to consistently compete in closely contested games, combined with the team's improvement in the win column, reflects the progress being made within the program. With two seasons under Baxley's leadership, the Marlins continue to establish a stronger foundation and a competitive identity. As the program looks ahead to 2027, the experience gained throughout this season provides plenty of reasons for optimism as Batten looks to build on its momentum and continue climbing the ODAC standings.
