Just under two months ago, a discouraged Virginia women’s lacrosse team walked off the field at Klöckner Stadium to the sound of the halftime buzzer. The score was 4-9 in favor of Duke, and although the Cavaliers (12-7, 5-4 ACC) had cut the deficit from six to five, it seemed an impossible task to complete the comeback.
That all changed when Virginia suddenly rallied behind senior goalkeeper Abby Jansen, who had spent most of the season playing second-fiddle to junior goalkeeper Mel Josephson. Coupled with several clutch goals, Jansen’s energy lit a fire under the Cavaliers that led to a staggering 16-11 win. It was a statement victory from Coach Sonia LaMonica and her squad that spoke to both the team’s resilience and talent. At the 2025 Hoos Choice Awards, women’s lacrosse was recognized for their efforts, earning the prestigious Comeback of the Year award.
Cut to Sunday, when Virginia welcomed the Blue Devils (14-5, 6-3 ACC) for the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cavaliers were still riding high from defeating LIU by a score of 20-6 in the first round. Unfortunately, any residual momentum Virginia retained was quickly snuffed out by Duke’s speed and tenacity — the match went downhill before the first quarter had even come to a close.
Although the two sides initially traded goals, the Blue Devils grabbed an early two-goal lead shortly thereafter and fought hard to keep it, making it difficult for Virginia to make any headway in a comeback. Every time the Cavaliers had an opportunity to score, a Duke player was there to force a turnover or win a ground ball. By the time halftime rolled around, Virginia was trailing by three goals.
It was truly déjà vu from the last meeting between the two teams, except this time, the Cavaliers were unable to summon the drive that had powered them to the previous victory. Instead, the Blue Devils maintained their lead, dominating the draw to prevent Virginia from earning possession and going on scoring runs. As the Cavaliers’ play devolved, so too did their resolve, and the match ended in Duke’s favor, 17-9.
“We really battled hard,” LaMonica said. “I think over the course of the game, that started to wear down, and we started to make uncharacteristic decisions. The loose balls, the 50-50 plays, we came up short as the game went on.”
Despite a heartbreaking ending to an otherwise strong season, Virginia displayed immense promise against a difficult opponent. Sophomore midfielder Kate Galica, who has broken records in her second season with the Cavaliers, registered a hat trick. Sophomore attacker Jenna DiNardo also had a hat trick, while sophomore attacker Addi Foster added on with two of her own.
Virginia’s offense slowed in part because sophomore attacker Madison Alaimo was absent from the scoresheet, due to the Blue Devils’ intense man marking. Alaimo is a key cog in the Cavaliers’ offensive machine, and without her contributions to the front line, Virginia floundered. The Cavaliers’ offensive unit was forced to score the majority of their goals unassisted, which required a higher level of stamina and precision. It was only a matter of time before Virginia began to buckle under Duke’s weight.
It is challenging to beat the same team twice, especially one as skilled as the Blue Devils. With the 2024-25 season officially over, the Cavaliers can now regroup, reflect on LaMonica’s second campaign and, in a few months’ time, return stronger than before.
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