Thanks to a run of four unanswered goals beginning in the second period and ending with the game winner in overtime, the Virginia women’s lacrosse team was able to escape with a 10-9 overtime victory last night against William & Mary at Klöckner Stadium.
After being behind most of the game, the Cavaliers (6-2, 1-2 ACC) overcame a weak performance in the first half against the Tribe (3-4) to force overtime with the tying goal with 3:27 remaining in regulation. Virginia then won the ensuing draw in overtime but was unable to capitalize during the overtime’s first three minutes. The Cavaliers won another draw to begin the second half of overtime, however, and junior attack Whitaker Hagerman capitalized on the possession, scoring the game-winning goal with 1:19 remaining in the period. The score completed the team’s late 4-0 run to close out the game.
“We had our moments and we had our ups and downs, but the biggest part was that we kept pushing and we kept fighting,” Hagerman said. “No matter what we were going to play until we won.”
Virginia was lucky to come away with the win after playing poorly in the first half. The Tribe got on the board first with a goal 52 seconds into the game. William & Mary also was able to dominate the draw controls early, winning seven to the Cavaliers’ three, and converted on four out of its first five shots on goal to take a 5-4 halftime lead.
In the second half, though, Virginia played like a different team, dominating the draw controls 7-3 and scoring the first two goals of the second half to take a 6-5 lead.
“Draw controls in every game this season have been game changing,” senior midfielder Blair Weymouth said. “We were lucky to come away with them.”
The Tribe would not fold easily, scoring two goals in a 19-second span following Virginia’s two-goal run. Virginia coach Julie Myers then replaced sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Benner with senior Sara Hairfield. The switch proved beneficial for the team: Hairfield played the remaining 18:50, only allowing one goal while collecting three saves en route to her first collegiate victory.
After scoring its lone goal on Hairfield at the 12:50 mark of the second period, the Tribe did not find the back of the net for the rest of the game. The Cavaliers rallied back with goals from All-American midfielders Weymouth and senior Ashley McCulloch and All-American senior attack Jenny Hauser to force overtime.
“We had our ups and downs, but the biggest part was that we kept pushing and we kept fighting,” Hagerman said. “No matter what, we were going to play until we won.”
By Virginia standards, the game was a defensive battle, as the Cavaliers posted their lowest offensive output of the season. McCulloch led the Cavaliers with three goals, Hauser and junior midfielder Brittany Kalkstein contributed a pair of goals each, and Weymouth added one goal and two assists to round out the Virginia attack.
On the defensive side, Kalkstein led Virginia with four draw controls and senior defender Katie Shannon forced four turnovers.
The Tribe handled its scoring by committee, with four different players scoring two goals.
“I would not have wanted to play defense for an extra second than what we had to tonight,” Myers said.
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