The No. 5 Virginia women’s lacrosse team looks to continue its season-best three-game win streak — all against ranked teams — Wednesday when it travels to face in-state opponent William & Mary.
The Cavaliers (6-4, 1-2 ACC) are coming off a home win against previously undefeated Duke.
“I think it showed everyone how good we are, but more importantly, it showed us that we can compete with these tops teams and we can win,” senior attacker Casey Bocklet said.
In that game, the Cavaliers led 7-3 at halftime, but a second half surge by the Blue Devils almost spoiled the upset. The Blue Devils’ comeback came up short though, as Virginia freshman goalie Rachel Vander Kolk made two crucial saves on Duke’s last five shots to seal the win for the Cavaliers.
“When everybody else is doing their part, I have to be able to pick up the play,” Vander Kolk said. “There were two big crucial times — two goals then would’ve changed the momentum in Duke’s favor. That’s the kind of time when you know you have to shut it down, so we can keep the game on our end.”
The win vaulted the Cavaliers over the Blue Devils in the latest IWLCA Coaches’ poll, moving them up three spots in the rankings from No. 8.
“I do think we have progressed,” coach Julie Myers said. “We’ve tightened things up defensively. Our transition game has been really clean, and we’re generating some fast break [looks] from that. I think our attackers have done a good job this year sharing the responsibility ball and really bringing out the best in one another.”
The No. 5 ranking is the highest regular-season ranking for the Cavaliers since the 2011 season, where they also were pegged as No. 5 mid-season before losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cavaliers did earn a No. 4 ranking at the completion of last season after losing in the semifinals of the NCAAs, but only reached as far as No. 6 during the regular season.
The Tribe (4-4) will be the first unranked team the Cavaliers have faced in five games. Virginia has only played against two unranked opponents all season — decisively beating Richmond, 14-6 — in the Cavaliers’ second game of the season and winning, 13-9, against Harvard earlier this month, which spells trouble for the Tribe who started the season 0-4 after losing to No. 1 Maryland, No. 6 Duke, Navy and No. 10 Louisville. The Tribe lost by an average of 11 goals to the three ranked opponents, and in the four game losing streak, the Tribe failed to score anymore than nine goals.
“We know we’re not undefeated and that we’re touchable and certainly beatable,” Myers said. “I think that’s the greatest message that we can get from losing those earlier games, so I’m not worried about them overlooking William & Mary at all.”
Since then, the Tribe has gone 4-0 against unranked opponents, doing what opposing teams had done to them. The Tribe has since outscored its opponents 68-31, including a most recent 22-3 trouncing against Gardner-Webb.
The Tribe had a close overtime victory against Richmond Friday. With the game tied 10-10 in overtime with 1:20 remaining, senior attacker Ellen Shaffrey scored the go-ahead goal to give William & Mary the win. Shaffrey, a Charlottesville native, is leading the team with 20 points and 18 goals. She has also won a team-leading 33 draw controls and has the chance to finish her career with the most draw controls in program history. Last week, she added a career-high five goals in both of William & Mary’s victories against Richmond and Gardner-Webb to be named the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week.
“William & Mary is a dangerous team,” Myers said. “Their opponents haven’t been quite the caliber that ours have been, but they’re in-state, and they play us hard. They don’t care what school we’re representing. They just want to win another home game, and they’ve got some players that are capable. A lot of local kids play for them, so I’m sure the would love to see what they can do to us as well.”
A Virginia player also received conference honors this week. Bocklet was named ACC Co-Player of the Week Tuesday after recording four goals and an assist against Duke, and three assists and a goal against James Madison. Epoch/Lacrosse Magazine also named her the National Player of the Week. Both of these honors were the first in her career.
“It’s great, but I think it’s more attributed to our entire team and how well we play all together,” Bocklet said. “I owe it to my team. We all play really well and we play a whole sixty minutes, and when it comes down to it, that’s what’s important.
Wednesday’s contest will be played in Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field in Williamsburg, Virginia. Opening draw is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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