No. 21 Virginia women’s lacrosse returned to action Wednesday for a midweek clash against Princeton. The Cavaliers’ (5-4, 4-1 ACC) fourth home contest was a successful one, defeating the Tigers (2-3, 1-0 ACC) by a 12-10 margin.
After starting its season with three losses, Virginia seems to have found its identity once again. Defeating a ranked ACC opponent for the third time this campaign is certainly impressive, and bodes well for the postseason — something Head Coach Sonia LaMonica emphasized postgame.
“Overall, this is a huge win for us,” LaMonica said. “It's a great, great step forward.”
For the Cavaliers, the main contributors to Wednesday’s victory were familiar faces. Junior midfielder Kate Galica stole the show with five goals and 11 draw controls, while junior attacker Madison Alaimo showed off her dynamic playmaking with four assists. Junior attacker Jenna DiNardo and sophomore attackers Jayden Piraino and Fiona Allen all chipped in with two goals apiece.
Dominance on the draw was one of the main catalysts for Virginia’s victory, outdoing Princeton on the circle by a 19-3 margin. Consistently winning on the restart allowed the Cavaliers to both stifle the Tigers’ momentum and add to their own. Supremacy on the draw circle meant that Virginia was on offense for far longer than Princeton was, racking up an impressive 41 shots compared to the Tigers’ 21.
Although the Cavaliers were certainly outdoing Princeton in most areas on the stat sheet, the Tigers held Virginia in check in front of goal, with senior goalkeeper Amelia Hughes racking up 15 saves and keeping the overwhelming Cavalier attack at bay.
The first quarter began, and immediately, the contest was a fast-paced one. DiNardo struck first, and after Princeton equalized, Allen’s impressive dodge from the right flank and subsequent spin inside to find room to shoot gave the Cavaliers the lead. Both sides would then trade scores to end the quarter with Virginia leading 3-2.
What was a lucrative offensive showing in the first period was starkly different in the second quarter, as the Cavaliers were shut out. The Tigers netted four of their own, meaning Virginia, despite amassing lopsided advantages in possession and shots, was trailing by three heading into halftime.
Whatever LaMonica said in the locker room must have flipped a switch in the spirits of the Cavaliers. Virginia proceeded to mirror Princeton’s domination on the scoreboard by going on a 4-0 run of its own. Bizarrely, both sides were able to shut each other out for 15 straight minutes.
The third quarter was a textbook showing from the Cavaliers. The attack was able to consistently beat Hughes after some halftime adjustments, meaning that the defense was under much less pressure, allowing them to dig in and create turnovers in crucial moments. The second half resurgence, although masterful, wasn’t anything new for a Virginia team that is full of experienced players.
“I think going down — we've been down before,” Galica said. “We use that to kind of come out of the locker room hard and strong.”
The match seemed to settle in the final quarter as both sides simply traded goals, ending with a 12-10 scoreline in favor of the Cavaliers. Piraino’s goal with 3:17 left was the final important action, securing a much-needed win over a ranked opponent.
Virginia will hope to keep its second-half momentum going when it hosts No. 9 Clemson Saturday. First draw is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ACCN.
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