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(09/16/09 5:16am)
Virginia field hockey's senior back Lauren Elstein had a busy offseason, interning at the Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. for 10 weeks during the summer, where she was responsible for analyzing Nike's expenditures and determining where the company could save money.
(09/07/09 9:13am)
Virginia women's field hockey coach Michele Madison earned her 250th career victory Friday as the Cavaliers dispatched No. 20 Providence (0-2), 2-1. Freshman midfielder Tara Puffenberger, in the best performance of her very young collegiate career, scored both goals for the Cavaliers (3-0).\nVirginia trailed for the first time this season when Providence senior forward Nellie Poulin notched the game's first goal. The Cavaliers did not get on the board until early in the second half when Puffenberger scored her first collegiate goal on an assist from sophomore midfielder Michelle Vittese.\nPuffenberger later sealed the victory for Virginia with her second goal off an assist from sophomore back Floor Vogels on a penalty corner.\nThe Cavaliers outshot their opponents by a significant margin for the third game in a row, totaling 20 shots to Providence's eight, and held an 8-2 advantage on penalty corners.\nJunior goalkeeper Kim Katsuk started in goal for the Cavaliers for the second time this season, playing the entire game and recording one save.\nVirginia will now continue its five-game road trip and take on No. 16 Old Dominion today. The Monarchs (2-1) have had an impressive start to their season, defeating No. 11 Penn State and Villanova before falling to No. 1 Maryland 6-3 despite scoring first.\nOld Dominion returns 10 starters from a team that went 10-13 (6-2 CAA) last season. The Monarchs, however, are picked to finish first in the CAA this season. The CAA includes talented teams such as William & Mary and James Madison.\nThe Monarchs are led by senior back Kathleen Shea who was a First Team All-CAA player last season with five goals and five defensive saves. She was third on the team in shots and points last season.\nThe Cavaliers, though, have had success in the past against in-state opponents, going 5-1 last season and only losing to James Madison. Virginia also boasts a balanced offensive attack; eight different players have already notched a goal this season.\n"There are a lot of hard workers," senior forward Traci Ragukas said. "We have a lot of legs out there. Everybody can pretty much go out there and keep up with everybody. Everybody has potential."\nTo win against the top teams in the nation, though, Virginia must translate that potential into success. For example, the Junior World Cup trio of midfielders - which includes sophomores Paige Selenski and Vittese and Puffenberger - have scored a combined four times and assisted on four more scores. But those figures betray a need to finish scoring runs more effectively, as the talented group has taken 30 shots along the way.\n"We just have to get them to finish," Madison said.\nThe Cavaliers also will need to rely on the veteran leadership of the team's only two seniors, Lauren Elstein and Traci Ragukas, to keep the team focused during its longest road trip of the season.\n"My goal is to get the team never to give up - not letting up for 70 minutes and keeping the team focused on what is happening now," Ragukas said.
(09/03/09 9:15am)
The ladies of Turf Field play their first of five consecutive games on the road tomorrow as they travel to Providence, R.I. to take on the No. 20 Friars (0-1). The Cavaliers (2-0) opened the season last weekend with wins against Miami (OH) 7-0 and No. 11 Penn State 1-0.\n"It's always good to get the first two wins, especially opening up at home," Virginia coach Michelle Madison said.\nThe Friars, on the other hand, began their season with a 1-0 loss to No. 17 Massachusetts. They return nine starters from last year, during which the squad went 12-9. Senior forward Nellie Poulin leads the Providence offense after scoring 16 goals last season en route to being named a Third Team All-American.\nThe Cavaliers are loaded with talented players, including sophomore midfielders Paige Selenski and Michelle Vittese were named to the preseason All-ACC team. Last year, Selenski led the Cavaliers with 19 goals and nine assists, earning her National Rookie of the Year honors, as well as First Team All-American accolades. Joining Selenski and Vittese are eight newcomers, most of whom have had previous high-level field hockey experience that should help smooth the team's transition after the graduation of several seniors.\nFreshman midfielder Tara Puffenberger is one player that should immediately contribute. She competed with Selenski and Vittese in the Junior World Cup this August, and although she failed to score last weekend, Puffenberger showed the talent necessary to make a big impact even as a rookie. Sophomore midfielder Inga St
(08/31/09 7:35am)
The No. 6 Virginia women's field hockey team began its season in impressive fashion this weekend with wins against Miami (OH) and No. 11 Penn State. The Cavaliers avenged last season's 0-1 loss to Penn State, defeating the Nittany Lions 1-0 Sunday at the University Hall Turf Field.\n"This is a big game for us because it was a big upset last year when we lost," sophomore midfielder Paige Selenski. "We were looking to come out and play a hard game against them and put it all out on the field."\nThe Cavaliers (2-0) started tentatively but eventually settled into an aggressive style of play. Although Virginia won, the offensive performance was disappointing for a team ranked No. 6. At times, the Cavaliers seemed erratic and out of control in their pursuit of the goal. The lone goal of the game was scored by sophomore midfielder Inga St
(08/28/09 6:38am)
The No. 6 Virginia women's field hockey team faces a challenging weekend as it takes on two quality non-conference foes at home - Miami University, Ohio and No. 11 Penn State.\nThe Red Hawks return six starters and nine letter winners from last year's squad. Although unranked in the NFHCA poll, they earned some top-20 votes.\nSunday's game against Penn State could prove more challenging. Virginia has not had great success against the Nittany Lions in the past, losing the teams' previous five meetings and holding a 3-13 overall record against Sunday's foe. The 2008 Big Ten Champions also return five of their top six scorers from last season.\nLike Miami and Penn State, though, the Cavaliers return most of their offensive power, with seven of last year's nine leading scorers present. Most notable among those returning is sophomore midfielder Paige Selenski, who had a breakout rookie season with 19 goals and 9 assists. Virginia also welcomes back 13 letter winners from last year's squad, which advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.\nThough Virginia's offensive play is strong, the Cavaliers' biggest challenge will be on defense, which took a big hit after several key players graduated. Amy Desjadon, Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn and Lucy Meyers had been the foundation of the Cavalier defense during their time at the University.\n"You are always going to lose players, you just have to work with what you have got and be the best you can be as a team," senior back Lauren Elstein said. "I have complete confidence in the team this year."\nThe Cavaliers will attempt to replace last year's trio of defenders with several promising newcomers. Boston University transfer junior goalkeeper Kim Kastuk looks to fill Desjadon's former role in the cage. Kastuk was the America East Goalkeeper of the Year in 2008 and recorded a conference high six shutouts last season.\n"Having Kim come in and step in goal is great for the team," Elstein said. "She has a lot of heart, a lot of drive, and a lot of ability, so I am really excited to see what she brings to the defense back there."\nElstein, one of the team's two seniors this season, will move to the back, assuming many of the responsibilities that Meyers and Sijpesteijn held on defense. The majority of Virginia's newcomers will be on the defensive side of the field, and Elstein will attempt to lead and bolster the defense.\n"I want to be the best leader for the team and do whatever it is to help the team win," Elstein said. "I think we are looking at a really strong defense this year."\nThe Cavaliers have enough offensive firepower to hang with anyone in the country. It will, however, be up to the defense to come up with key stops for the Cavaliers to find success this season. Untested, the youthful backline could be the team's weakest link - or a pleasant, beneficial surprise.\n"We are just trying to build on last year - one day at a time, one practice at a time," coach Michele Madison said.
(08/25/09 11:28pm)
The women's field hockey Junior World Cup this month was the largest international field hockey event ever held in the United States - and some Cavaliers saw playing time.\nSophomore midfielders Paige Selenski and Michelle Vittese, along with freshman midfielder Tara Puffenberger, were among the competitors - all of whom were younger than 21 - selected to represent the United States. Rounding out Virginia's participation in the World Cup, which was held in Boston, Mass., was sophomore Inga St
(08/22/09 10:01am)
Under the tutelage of coach Michele Madison, the Virginia field hockey team has become increasingly competitive during its past four seasons. Last fall, however, the Cavaliers stumbled by their standards, finishing 14-9 (2-3 ACC) and losing to Wake Forest in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.\nThis year, expectations will once again run high in Charlottesville, as the team was picked to finish first in the ACC according to the conference coaches' pre-season poll. Madison, though, wants her players to back up the team's lofty projected ranking.\n"It doesn't really matter where you start in the beginning," Madison said. "It matters where you finish at the end, and we are focusing on being the best team that we can be."\nThat goal took a major hit with the departure of graduated seniors Lucy Meyers, Amy Desjadon and Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn - three of the program's most experienced players.\n"We will definitely miss them," senior back Lauren Elstein said. "It's just like every other year you lose some players and you gain some more. We are just focusing on the roster we have now of 22 and using everybody we have to the best of their ability."\nEven with the Cavaliers' loss of Meyers, Desjadon and Sijpesteijn, the team possesses a wide array of young, talented players looking to achieve national success. The team has just two seniors and four juniors, but even in the absence of experience, a national title remains a viable aim.\nTwo of Virginia's leading returning starters - sophomores Paige Selenski and Michelle Vittese - are among the most talented midfielders in the country. Selenski is the reigning ACC Freshman of the Year and National Rookie of the Year and again looks to lead the Cavalier attack. Vittese's freshman season, meanwhile, was cut short by injuries, but she still scored six goals and added six assists despite starting only 12 of 23 games. This year, both Selenski and Vittese were named to the preseason First Team All-ACC - the only sophomores to make the prestigious list.\nSupporting Selenski and Vittese will be freshman midfielder Tara Puffenberger, who competed with her new sophomore teammates at this summer's Junior World Cup in Boston. Although the United States finished eighth, the trio gained valuable experience competing at an elite level that could benefit the Cavaliers down the stretch. Sophomore midfielder Inga Stockel also participated in the Junior World Cup as a member of the German team, making Virginia's midfield among the most worldly at the NCAA level.\nIf its superior midfield will help the team this season, one area of potential concern, meanwhile, is at the goalkeeper position. After the departure of Desjadon and former junior Devon Burnley, the Cavaliers are left with three potential suitors for the job. Sophomore Adrienne Ostroff came on strong for the Cavaliers at the end of last season and will look to continue receiving considerable playing time, while freshman Amanda Crider also will compete for minutes. Boston University transfer junior Kim Kastuk, however, could prove to have the most experience of the three.\nKastuk, the America East Rookie of the Year in 2007, recorded seven shutouts and tied for twelfth in the nation with a 1.25 goals against average last season. The opposing goalkeeper when the Cavaliers played the Terriers last season, Kastuk held the Cavaliers to two goals and helped Boston prevail in penalty strokes.\n"It's still wide open," Madison said. "It's a matter of everything working itself out on the field."\nPlaying in the grueling ACC, the Cavaliers will soon know how prepared they are to face the elite teams on their schedule. If they are able to survive the tough conference's competition, they could have a chance to make a serious run at the program's first national title.\n"We are just trying to build on last year," Madison said. "You can't show up on game day and expect to beat everybody in the ACC"
(04/23/09 5:40am)
With the regular season complete, the Virginia women’s lacrosse team will begin its quest for its fourth consecutive ACC crown and its fifth in six years. The Cavaliers are coming off a heartbreaking 11-10 loss to top-ranked Northwestern in the tightest game the Wildcats saw all season. Despite the loss, the game gave the Cavaliers some momentum heading into the postseason.“These one-goal losses are hurting,” Virginia coach Julie Myers said. “We have to make sure that we are the happy team in the end. Coming close is great, but it is not good enough right now.”Though they are highly-ranked, the No. 10 Cavaliers (10-6, 2-3 ACC) have, by many standards, struggled this season compared to recent years. Their six losses are the most the squad has suffered during the regular season since 1995. The postseason gives the Cavaliers a chance to bounce back.The past three years, the Cavaliers have absolutely dominated the ACC Tournament, defeating their opponents by a combined score of 82-56 during their marches to conference championships.This year, the Cavaliers already have three losses against ACC teams, however, a number that translated to a disappointing fourth-place finish in the six-team conference. They have shown, though, that they can come back and defeat a team in the postseason that had beaten them in the regular season. In 2006 and 2007, the Cavaliers lost to North Carolina during the regular season but defeated the Tar Heels in the ACC Tournament. Virginia will look to exact a similar revenge against opponents this weekend.Virginia’s first game in the ACC Tournament will come against Virginia Tech (7-9, 1-4 ACC), which the Cavaliers soundly defeated 19-3 earlier this year. Today is the first time these in-state rivals will face one another in the ACC Tournament. The Cavaliers have a perfect 13-0 all-time, regular-season record against the Hokies and are favored to extend their winning streak against Virginia Tech.The Cavaliers dominated the earlier matchup between the two teams. Senior midfielder Ashley McCulloch recorded a career-high eight points and senior midfielder Blair Weymouth contributed five points on three goals and two assists. Nine Cavaliers found the back of the net en route to their second highest-scoring game of the season.Coming into today’s outing against the Cavaliers, the Hokies have lost two straight games. They also have, however, made great strides all season.“They are a much-improved team,” Myers said. “A lot of younger kids are getting a lot better and not making as many mistakes and doing a better job going to goal. We will have our hands full.”Senior attack Rachel Culp, who is among the nation’s top offensive players, leads the Hokies with 53 goals and 15 assists. Sophomore attack Allie Emala is another key contributor, totaling 34 goals and matching Cavalier junior midfielder Brittany Kalkstein’s impressive number of 58 draw controls this season. This total puts the pair in a tie for eighth in the country. Senior goalkeeper Kari Morrison anchors the Hokie defense between the pipes; Morrison had 13 saves against the Cavaliers in their first meeting and is currently fourth in the country in saves per game.If the Cavaliers can get by the Hokie squad today, they will take on No. 1-seeded Maryland (16-0, 5-0 ACC) in the semifinals Friday. Should the Cavaliers upset the Terrapins, they will play in the finals Sunday.“I want to come up with four [ACC titles] in a row,” Weymouth said. “We have Virginia Tech first, and they are out to get us, so we need to focus our attention on them. All of the ACC teams are huge competitors, so I think we should be all set and good to go.”Other matchups in the ACC Tournament include Duke (11-4, 3-2 ACC) against Boston College (9-7, 0-5 ACC); the winner of that game will take on No. 2-seed North Carolina (13-3, 4-1 ACC) to fill the other spot in the tournament finals.
(04/20/09 5:24am)
The No. 10 Virginia women’s lacrosse team suffered its sixth loss of the spring Sunday — its most during a season since 1995 — falling to No. 1 Northwestern 11-10. The senior day matchup between the Cavaliers (10-6, 2-3 ACC) and Wildcats (14-0, 2-0 ALC) was the first regular season meeting between the two schools since 1991.“It is a heartbreaker,” Virginia coach Julie Myers said. ”I think our girls really battled hard and created a lot of opportunities to try to win a huge game at home. I feel like we had a chance — it was one of those games that we could have won.”The Wildcats were quick out of the blocks against the Cavaliers. The top-ranked team in the country began by winning the opening draw, and junior midfielder Danielle Spencer scored the first goal of the game one minute into play. Northwestern followed with another goal two and a half minutes later off a free position shot. But just when it seemed like the Wildcats were well on their way to blowing out the Cavaliers, Virginia junior midfielder Kaitlin Duff split the Northwestern defense to score. Throughout the game, the Wildcats played an aggressive press on defense, allowing the Virginia attack to find holes in the line and create scoring opportunities. Beginning at the 17:30 mark, the Cavaliers went on a scoring run, netting four unanswered goals to take a 6-3 lead. Junior midfielder Whittaker Hagerman and senior midfielder Blair Weymouth each notched two goals during the stretch. Controlling the time of possession in the first half, Virginia effectively worked the ball around the net, creating multiple scoring opportunities. Northwestern, though, found an answer for the Cavalier offense, responding with three quick goals of its own before halftime. Northwestern’s run was capped by senior midfielder Hannah Nielsen’s goal with just four and a half seconds left to give the visitors a 7-6 lead heading into the locker room.After halftime, the game’s pace slowed considerably, as the Wildcats and Cavaliers exchanged just two goals apiece during the first 10 minutes of the second half. Northwestern was able to take a two-goal edge, but Duff managed to erase the deficit with two nettings of her own — the last of which came with eight and a half minutes remaining. The Wildcats then went into a stall offense with just more than three minutes left and the score tied at 10-10.Nielsen helped Northwestern snatch the lead from the Cavaliers with a minute and a half left in the game. Nielsen, last year’s Player of the Year, made a cut from behind the goal and snuck the ball past sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Benner. With the clock winding down, Virginia’s hopes of pulling an upset were growing slimmer.Virginia senior Jenny Hauser, though, then intercepted the ball after the Cavaliers lost the ensuing draw control, creating one last chance for the Cavaliers. A foul on Duff gave her an opportunity to score with eight and a half seconds left in the game — but she false-started, turning the ball over and sealing the game for Northwestern.The loss marked the Cavaliers’ third one-goal defeat of the season.“In the first half, I think we were able to generate some of their turnover and mistakes into our goals,” Myers said. “In the second half, we were the ones who made the mental mistakes in the end.”Weymouth ended her career at Klöckner Stadium by scoring a team-high four goals, and Duff added three. The Cavalier defense played a significant role in keeping Virginia in the game, holding the Wildcats’ three highest scorers — Nielsen, Spencer and senior midfielder Hilary Bowen — to just four goals, well below their average combined total of 10 per game. Although the Cavaliers held Northwestern to its lowest offensive output of the season, Virginia’s goalkeepers only managed one save. “I think it is probably the best our team has played on the field in terms of generating opportunities,” Myers said. “We were focused, intense and excited. I think some of that intensity and emotion has been missing for parts of the season, so it was great to see that.”The game against top-ranked Northwestern should give the Cavaliers confidence as they head to Blacksburg, Va. for the ACC Tournament Thursday. The one-goal margin of victory was the smallest of the season for the Wildcats.“I thought we were the better team,” Weymouth said. “We just didn’t come up with it in the last minute and a half.”
(04/20/09 5:18am)
When the Virginia women’s lacrosse team saw Northwestern on its schedule at the beginning of the season, the players circled the game and saw it as an opportunity to defeat the four-time defending national champs in a game that could be a stepping stone on the way to a fourth conference title. During the past four years, the Cavaliers have had several run-ins with the Wildcats, defeating them in the quarterfinals for the 2004 national championship and losing in the 2005 and 2007 championship games. Northwestern, on the other hand, has been downright dominant this season, posting the nation’s top offense while still fielding a suffocating defense.As it came time for the game Sunday, the mood was very different for the Cavaliers; they had gone from being ranked No. 4 in the country with high hopes of going undefeated to losing five games and struggling to make the NCAA Tournament. A win against the Wildcats would begin to repair a disappointing season and hopefully lift the Cavaliers as they entered the postseason. The game Sunday marked the final regular season home game for Virginia’s eight seniors, including Blair Weymouth and Ashley McCulloch, two of the best to play at Virginia. I was hopeful as the game started because I knew that the Cavaliers have had the talent all season to hang with anybody in the country — they just needed to put it together for a full 60 minutes.In typical senior day fashion, Virginia coach Julie Myers started all of her seniors. The Cavaliers came out fired up — maybe too fired up — and were quickly taken aback as the Wildcats rapidly scored two goals in the first four minutes to snag a 2-0 lead. At this point, it looked like the Cavaliers had not improved at all throughout the season and would be handily beaten just like every other Northwestern opponent. Thankfully, Kaitlin Duff took the weight off everyone’s shoulders, scoring the first goal for Virginia, proving that the Cavaliers would not just lie down and give the game away. The Cavaliers became extremely persistent on offense, possessing the ball for most of the first half. Their patience was rewarded with a four-goal spurt by Blair Weymouth and Whittaker Hagerman, each of whom scored twice. I was in awe after the Cavaliers took a 6-3 lead, and I even began to consider the fact that Virginia may actually have a chance to win the game. But I knew Northwestern was bound to make a run, and it was up to the Cavaliers to outlast it. At that point, I was brought back down to earth as the Wildcats finished out the first half with four straight goals of their own to take a 7-6 lead.During this weekend’s game, the Virginia defense was charged with its toughest task of the season, shutting down Northwestern’s stars: Hannah Nielsen, Danielle Spencer and Hilary Bowen. Cavalier sophomore defender Liz Downs was given the assignment of locking down Nielsen, the 2008 Tewaaraton Trophy winner who currently leads the country in points. Nielsen’s first of two goals proved to be extremely crucial for the Wildcats, as it came with four seconds left in the first half to give them the lead.Despite being down at halftime, the Cavaliers were hanging with a team that was supposed to beat them easily. If it were not for a few miscues, Virginia would have been winning the game. The attack already had managed to score as many goals as the Wildcats typically allow in an entire game.As the second half began, the Cavaliers matched their intensity from the first half. Virginia and Northwestern went on to trade goals for the first eight minutes, with neither team pulling away. I was still confident that the Cavaliers could get the job done and complete the upset. Duff took it upon herself to keep Virginia in the game, scoring two goals in four minutes to knot the game at 10-10 with eight and a half minutes left. As the game began to wind down, the Wildcats went into a stall offense, which proved successful as Nielsen scored with a minute and a half left in the game. Although I knew it was highly unlikely the Cavaliers would tie the game at that point, they apparently thought otherwise. Despite not winning the ensuing draw, the defense that had been scrappy all season came up with a turnover, giving Virginia one last opportunity to tie the game. As she had done all day, Duff went to goal and was fouled, giving her a chance at a free-position shot with 8.5 seconds left in the game. With Duff in position ready to take the shot, though, she false-started, consequently giving the ball to Northwestern and sealing the victory for the Wildcats.With the loss, the Cavaliers most likely still have some work to do to ensure themselves a spot in the NCAA Tournament. But the Cavaliers should hold their heads high, knowing that they took the No. 1 team in the country right down to the wire, which no other team did all season. They showed great resolve throughout the game, never giving up and fighting until the very end.Virginia is coming on strong at the end of the season headed into the ACC Tournament beginning Thursday. After watching the Cavaliers all season — culminating with the game against Northwestern Sunday — I would not want to face the Cavaliers in the postseason.
(04/17/09 4:59am)
The No. 10 Virginia women’s lacrosse team will take on four-time national champion No. 1 Northwestern Sunday in its final regular season home game. The match marks the first time the two teams have met in the regular season since 1991. The Cavaliers (10-5, 2-3 ACC) own the all-time series record 5-3; though they were able to beat the Wildcats in the second round of the 2004 NCAA tournament, Virginia fell to Northwestern (13-0, 2-0 ALC) in both the 2005 and 2007 title games.“This is a big game for the seniors,” senior defender Katie Shannon said. “Not only is it senior day, but we’re facing a team that we lost to in the NCAA championship by two goals in 2007. That is enough to light a fire under us and get us ready for Sunday.”Although initially ranked No. 4 at the beginning of the season, the Cavaliers have had an up-and-down season. Virginia has posted a worse record at home than on the road this season, going 4-3 at home while notching a 6-2 record away from Klöckner Stadium. The Wildcats, on the other hand, have dominated their opponents this season. Northwestern possesses the nation’s best offense and second-best defense. During the past four years, they have only lost three games and have won four consecutive national championships. In the Wildcats’ eight games against top-20 teams this season, they have outscored opponents 143-53; overall, the Wildcats have outscored opponents 250-75. Among the teams thrashed this season by the Wildcats are Syracuse, North Carolina, Duke and Penn State, all of whom Virginia also played this season. The Cavaliers were able to escape with a one-goal victories against Penn State and Syracuse, but lost against the Blue Devils and Tar Heels. Not only have the Wildcats beaten their opponents, they have embarrassed them with an average margin of victory of 13 goals. Their offense leads the nation, averaging over 19 goals per game and having cracked the 20-goal mark eight times this season. In comparison, the Cavalier offense notched 20 goals for the first time in four years Tuesday night against George Mason, topping the Patriots 21-8.Virginia and Northwestern will both feature nominees for the Tewaaraton Trophy, awarded annually to the nation’s top player. The Wildcats’ offense is led by three players in particular, each of whom has scored 40 or more goals and dished out 10 or more assists this season. The most decorated of the three is arguably 2008 Tewaaraton Trophy winner senior midfielder Hannah Nielsen, who leads the nation in points and assists per game. The Aussie is the NCAA’s all-time leader in assists and has recorded the two best offensive seasons in Northwestern’s history; she is also well on her way to her third consecutive 100-point season with 89 points on the year. Joining Nielsen in the Northwestern offensive attack is senior Hilary Bowen, who ranks second in the country in goals per game and sixth in points. The attacker has been named the MVP of the NCAA Championships twice, scoring an NCAA Tournament record 17 goals in 2008. Danielle Spencer rounds out the three-headed scoring attack; the 6-foot-2 junior midfielder is Northwestern’s third-leading scorer with 42 goals on the season, two fewer than the Cavaliers’ leading scorer, senior midfielder Blair Weymouth.“They have great players on their team, but our defense practices against great attackers every day in practice,” Shannon said.Though the Cavaliers do not possess as much offensive depth as the Wildcats, they can hold their own when it comes to scoring goals. A Tewaaraton nominee, Weymouth leads Virginia with 44 goals on the season; she is the only Cavalier this season to eclipse 40 in the category. Weymouth will finish her career in the top-five all-time at Virginia in goals, assists and points and could become the program’s second four-time All-American. Her cohort — senior midfielder Ashley McCulloch — also has been an intricate part of the offense this season, dishing out a team-high 28 assists on the season to go along with her 29 goals. McCulloch recently reached the 100-assist mark for her career, making her only the fourth Cavalier ever to reach the century mark. The Cavaliers will need offensive production from more than Weymouth and McCulloch, however, if they wish to defeat the Wildcats. Senior attack Jenny Hauser is second on the team in goals with 31 and has shown the ability to step up in big games, scoring six goals against Duke earlier this season.“They play an aggressive, double-teaming defense so our attack will move the ball quickly to avoid the pressure,” Shannon said.While both teams boast high-power offenses, defense is equally important to win championships, and Northwestern is no slouch when it comes to shutting down opponents. The Wildcats are only allowing a meager six goals per game, good for second in the country behind Pennsylvania. Their stingy defense is anchored between the pipes by senior goalkeeper Morgan Lathrop. Lathrop has only allowed five goals per contest, while stopping 57 percent of opponents’ shots — both good for second in the country. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, have flip-flopped their goalkeepers during the last couple of games. Senior Sara Hairfield received considerable minutes against Harvard and George Mason. Hairfield is 2-0 on the season, allowing nine goals per game. Usual sophomore starter, Lauren Benner, has struggled recently, and as of now, coach Julie Myers has not named a starter.“We need to play tough and execute for the entire game,” Myers said. “Possessions and possession time will be huge. They are dangerous in every spot but the less they have the ball, the less they can score so we’re going to work hard to win every possession possible.”The one area the Cavaliers may have the advantage in is draw controls, where junior midfielder Brittany Kalkstein is third in the country, averaging close to four a game. Although Northwestern as a team leads the country in draw controls, Kalkstein has the ability to step up and give the Cavaliers a chance to win. A win against Northwestern would secure the Cavaliers a spot in the NCAA Tournament and help solidify a somewhat disappointing season for Virginia. If Virginia loses, however, it will be the first time since 1995 that the Cavaliers have lost six games in the regular season. Virginia will have to come ready to play to knock off the goliath that is Northwestern.“Sunday is a huge opportunity for us to not only pick up a quality win, but it would also get us off the bubble for postseason bids,” Myers said. “To end our home season with a huge win would be a perfect reward for a lot of hard work and a great momentum builder going into the ACC tournament starting next week.”
(04/14/09 5:36am)
The No. 9 Virginia women’s lacrosse team will play its final road game of the season tonight as the Cavaliers travel to Fairfax, Va. to take on non-conference foe George Mason.The Cavaliers (9-5, 2-3 ACC) have won two straight games after dropping three of their previous four contests and have played several tough in-state opponents this season. Virginia won in overtime against William & Mary but lost to Old Dominion two weeks ago. Against George Mason, the Cavaliers will look to not make the same mistake they made before their defeat against the Monarchs.“I think we have learned our lesson that we can’t take games for granted, regardless of what their record is or what we have done in the past,” senior midfielder Ashley McCulloch said.The Cavaliers boast a dynamic offensive attack with four players notching 20 or more goals and 10 or more assists on the season. Senior midfielder Blair Weymouth recently recorded her fourth consecutive season with at least 30 goals and 10 assists.Although producing offensively has not been a problem against most opponents this season, the Cavalier defense has struggled since the team’s early season upset against then-No. 3 Syracuse. Now heading into postseason, Virginia coach Julie Myers has been forced to make some adjustments on the defensive end of the field.During the team’s last game against Harvard, Myers started senior Sara Hairfield in goal for her second appearance this season. Hairfield recorded a career-high 11 saves en route to the 13-9 Cavalier victory.With the defense looking like it is getting back on track, the Cavaliers are showing signs of their early season form.“I think we have started to take steps forward and we are starting to play how I know we can play,” Weymouth said. “I think everyone’s heads are in that place right now.”The Patriots (5-7, 1-3 CAA) have not posted the same impressive offensive numbers as the Cavaliers this season. Sophomore attack Madalyn Jamison leads George Mason with 26 goals and 21 assists. She is third in the Colonial Athletic Conference in assists per game and fourth in points per game. George Mason enters tonight’s matchup after losing its past three games against CAA opponents Hofstra, Old Dominion and William & Mary.Given that the Cavaliers split their games against Old Dominion and William & Mary, they cannot count on a victory against George Mason. They only have two more games to iron out the kinks before postseason play, and Virginia will need to use tonight’s game as a tune-up for its regular season finale against four-time national champion No. 1 Northwestern Sunday at home.“We need to play at a high level of execution with a lot of intensity, fire and emotion,” Myers said. “Those are the things that have been missing from time to time. We have had spurts of it in each game but we haven’t been able to maintain it for 60 minutes.”Although the Cavaliers have had somewhat of a disappointing season thus far, losing five games in the regular season — something Virginia has not done since 2001 — the team remains confident that it can make a deep run in the postseason and potentially be one of the two teams remaining the day of the national championship.“I can’t really tell you what is going to happen on May 24 — whether we will be there or not — but I can guarantee that we are going to work as hard as we can to try and be there,” Weymouth said.
(04/09/09 4:54am)
Blair Weymouth and Ashley McCulloch.Although these names may not be as familiar to Virginia lacrosse fans as Shamel Bratton and Danny Glading, the two deserve just as much recognition for their accomplishments. The All-American senior midfielders have not only led the Virginia women’s lacrosse team during their four years, but the two have etched their names in the record books while doing so. Arguably one of the best lacrosse duos ever to play at Virginia, Weymouth and McCulloch have led the Cavaliers to a 57-21 record during their time at Virginia, including a second-place finish in the 2007 NCAA Tournament.“Not only are they great lacrosse players, they are really solid kids,” Virginia coach Julie Myers said. “They work hard when nobody is looking and they bring a great level of intensity and competitiveness to the team.”A native of New Hampshire where she was a three-time high school All-American at The Holderness School, Weymouth has started in 53 of 55 games as a Cavalier and has earned All-American honors three times. If she is named an All-American after the 2009 season, she will become only the second Cavalier ever to have achieved the honor all four years of her career, the other being Amy Appelt. Weymouth boasts a multi-faceted game; she is currently ranked in the top-five all-time at Virginia in goals (182), assists (72) and points (254) — only the third Virginia player to be in the top-five in all three categories. She regards her time at Virginia as a “fun experience”, enjoying the opportunity to play with so many talented teammates in one of the toughest conferences in the country.“It has just been a great four years,” Weymouth said. “I have enjoyed working with all of the different people who have come through here.”This includes McCulloch. Their partnership has been a deadly one for opponents during the past four years, and together, they have helped push each other.“The combination of Blair’s speed and athleticism with Ashley’s playmaking and field-sense makes them really hard to stop,” Myers said.McCulloch has picked apart defenses throughout her career, dishing out 99 assists in 69 games, 56 of which she started — good for fourth all-time at Virginia. She also is arguably one of the team’s most valuable players, as she is charged with playing the role of the squad’s “quarterback,” Myers said.“Playing with her has always been fun because she is such a smart player and has the skill to feed in balls that most other players aren’t necessarily going to get in to their attackers,” Weymouth said.The duo has earned many individual accolades throughout their careers, but they have yet to achieve the ultimate team goal of a national championship. The Cavaliers came close in 2007, when they were runners-up to Northwestern. Virginia used a 10-0 run in the NCAA semifinals against Duke to complete the largest comeback ever in NCAA Championship history and to advance to the title game.“It has been a great four years,” McCulloch said. “Hopefully, we will finish the season out strong and get back to that national championship game.”Weymouth and McCulloch still have plenty of time to make a run at a national championship, but it is already clear that they will finish as two of the most decorated Cavalier players of all time — regardless of the season’s outcome.“If I had to pick a team of attackers out of all of the players that have ever played, Blair and Ashley would be on that list,” Myers said.
(04/03/09 4:34am)
The Virginia women’s lacrosse team will begin its four-game road trip this weekend in Massachusetts against Boston College and Harvard.The Cavaliers (7-5, 1-3 ACC) have experienced a disappointing past few weeks. After starting the season as the No. 4 team in the country, Virginia lost four of its last six games, with the most recent loss coming against Old Dominion, who was on a 33-game losing streak against the Cavaliers.“We need to make sure we are getting better, and I am not sure we are doing that in terms of finishing,” Virginia coach Julie Myers said.Virginia will have the chance to get back on track this weekend. The Cavaliers begin play Saturday against ACC opponent Boston College, against whom they will look to keep their perfect 7-0 all-time record alive. Last year’s matchup culminated in a 12-4 victory at home for the Cavaliers..The Eagles (7-4, 0-3 ACC) have been on the road most of the season, playing 10 of their 11 games away from home. Now it is the Cavaliers’ turn to experience an extended period of time away from familiar territory.“It is a chance to go out and compete against another team and do all the little things really well — [to] not only generate opportunities, but now actually see and deal with it,” Myers said.Virginia will have to deal with Boston College’s powerful offense, which averages 13 goals per game. Senior attack Jenna McCabe, who has tallied 29 goals and 15 assists, leads the Eagles’ offense. She is closely followed by sophomore midfielder Kristin Igoe and junior attack Lauren Costello, who have notched 26 and 24 goals, respectively. Boston College’s offense could prove especially dangerous because the Virginia defense recently has not played up to its potential. Virginia’s defense has been porous at times this season when given a lead, so it will be up to the offense to get off to a good start to give Virginia a chance to win the game.“I think it is important for us to come out every half scoring a lot of goals,” junior midfielder Kaitlin Duff, “to always try to be up instead of behind and working our way back.”The Cavalier offense will be hard-pressed to put the ball in the back of the net, though, when it faces Boston College’s goalie, senior Katie Monaghan. She has stopped more than half of her opponents’ shots on goal this season while allowing only 9.72 goals per game.Virginia offense counters with experience and senior leadership. Midfielder Blair Weymouth recorded her 30th career hat trick and 34th goal this season Wednesday against ODU, and Ashley McCulloch has dished out a team-high 25 assists so far this season.After squaring off against the Eagles, the squad will not get a respite, as it faces Harvard the next day. The Crimson (4-5, 1-1 Ivy) boasts an impressive offense as well, with two players who have already eclipsed the 30-goal mark this season. Sophomore midfielder Jess Halpern and senior attack Kaitlin Martin have 32 and 30 goals, respectively.The games this weekend could have a significant impact on how the Cavaliers, once highly ranked but now mired in a recent slump, finish the season. It will be up to the Virginia defense to slow down two high-powered offenses and get the team back on track.
(03/30/09 5:55am)
The Virginia women’s lacrosse team lost to No. 5 Duke 13-12 in a Saturday afternoon nail-biter. Senior attack Jenny Hauser’s career-high six goals did not stifle the Blue Devils (9-2, 2-1 ACC), “I think it was just a miscommunication with our defense,” Duke junior midfielder Kaitlin Duff said. “We were struggling calling numbers, and then she came straight down the middle.”The No. 10 Cavaliers (7-4, 1-3 ACC) began the game with a series of quick strikes, scoring 33 seconds into the game and then jumping out to a 3-0 lead eight minutes into the match. The Blue Devils, however, offset Virginia’s successful start by going on a 7-1 run during the next 17 minutes, tallying six consecutive goals. Hauser was the only Cavalier to manage a goal during the stretch. The Cavaliers finished the half strong with three goals in the final two and a half minutes, going into halftime down 7-8. Hauser played an impressive first half, scoring four of her six goals. Duke’s junior attack Lindsay Gilbride and senior attack Carolyn Davis also had a strong first half, both ending the period with three goals apiece.Duke began the second half with a goal a minute and a half in. Just as it seemed the game was getting out of hand for the Cavaliers, Virginia responded with two goals by junior midfielder Brittany Kalkstein and senior midfielder Blair Weymouth to knot the score at nine. The teams traded goals until eight and a half minutes were left in the game and both teams locked down on defense. The barren streak continued until sophomore midfielder Sarah Bullard scored the game-winning goal with 11.3 seconds left in the game to seal the victory for the Blue Devils.“We lost against a great opponent in Duke,” Virginia coach Julie Myers. “It’s heartbreaking to come up a goal short again with plenty of opportunities to seal the deal and come up with a win.”Hauser’s offensive performance was a positive for Virginia. Along with her six goals, she collected two draw controls and one ground ball while causing one turnover.“We were looking for [one-on-one matchups] today, which is one of my favorite things to do, so I went for it,” Hauser said.Apart from Hauser, five other Cavaliers contributed to Virginia’s scoring. Weymouth scored two goals, while senior midfielder Ashley McCulloch, junior attack Whitaker Hagerma, freshman midfielder Julie Gardner and Kalkstein each notched a goal for the Cavaliers. Davis and Gilbride led the Blue Devils, scoring four goals apiece.The loss for Virginia is yet another twist in its up and down season. It seemed as if the Cavaliers might have regained their early season form after scoring 18 goals and defeating then-no. 18 James Madison Tuesday. The Cavaliers, though, could not capitalize on the momentum Saturday. The loss against Duke is Virginia’s fourth loss in their last seven games, all of which have been against ranked opponents.“I think losing these games will eventually come to show later in the season,” Weymouth said. “We have some of the best attackers in the country and we have some of the best defenders. It is a matter of playing together for a whole 60 minutes and not having lulls in the middle of the game.”
(03/27/09 5:54am)
The No. 9 Virginia women’s lacrosse team appears to have gotten back on track following three losses this season against ranked opponents, defeating No. 19 James Madison 18-9 Tuesday night in Harrisonburg, Va. There is no rest for the weary, however, as the Cavaliers (7-3, 1-2 ACC) face No. 4 Duke this weekend. The Blue Devils (8-2, 1-1 ACC) will be a tough conference test for the Cavaliers. The visitors will be seeking revenge after the Cavaliers knocked them out of the ACC Tournament last season.On paper, the matchup appears to boast two fairly evenly matched ACC teams. It will, however, mark one of the few times this season that the game’s leading goal scorer will start opposite Virginia. Duke senior attack Carolyn Davis leads the Blue Devils with 33 goals, while Cavalier senior midfielder Blair Weymouth has 29 goals this season. Besides controlling Weymouth, the Blue Devils also face the task of attempting to contain senior Ashley McCulloch. The midfielder, who has dished out 21 assists this spring, has played a large role in setting up the Cavaliers’ scoring opportunities. The Blue Devils, meanwhile, have their own do-it-all player as well: senior attack Caroline Cryer, who leads Duke with 18 assists and 27 draw controls. The Cavaliers’ season started on a promising note with a victory against their first ranked opponent of the season — then-No. 3 Syracuse. Since then, however, Virginia has been in a slump, losing the last three of its six games. The Cavaliers were not as successful in their game plan against those three opponents. They lost or tied the draw control battle in several games and their shooting percentage was far below that of their opposition. The Cavaliers have only averaged 11 goals per game in the six-game stretch after averaging 17 nettings per contest in the first four games of the year. Going into this weekend’s matchup, Virginia will look to improve its offensive production.“We need to get back into that groove,” Weymouth said. “Right now it has been a little bit frustrating, but we have been having good practices so hopefully in the next games we can come out and be the team that beat Syracuse.” This weekend also is an opportunity for Virginia to prove that it is indeed the team that possesses four All-Americans and is a viable contender for a national championship. For the Cavaliers to make a run in the postseason, they will need to regain their early season form, building off the momentum earned after the win against JMU.“We are a very good team, and I think there are a lot of good teams,” Virginia coach Julie Myers said. “A lot of our games have come down to one goal; twice we were excited to have the win, but a one-goal game could have flipped either way. We just need to make sure we stay together, stay positive, and keep getting better.”
(03/24/09 6:04am)
The No. 9 Virginia women’s lacrosse team will travel to Harrisonburg, Va. to take on No. 16 James Madison tonight.The Dukes (4-3) have not beaten the Cavaliers (6-3, 1-2 ACC) since 2000. Virginia is 26-10 all-time against JMU; the program’s 26 wins rank as the third most against a school.James Madison has had a tough season thus far, losing to three ranked opponents and only playing two games at home. The Dukes managed to play close in each loss, as the largest margin of defeat was four points against No. 11 Notre Dame. JMU last lost to Princeton 13-11 Wednesday before the Tigers upset the Cavaliers 8-7 Saturday.“I think JMU is coming in hungry,” Virginia coach Julie Myers said. “I think we just need to make sure we stay together as a team and we just keep battling everyday, so that on game day, we play great and we are actually going to have a win to show for it.”The Cavaliers, meanwhile, are in a slump, losing three of their last five games to ranked opponents. Tonight, the team will have to look elsewhere besides its balanced offensive attack, as both squads have three players each with at least 16 goals on the season. The Dukes are led by junior midfielder Kim Griffin, who has a team-high 24 points off 20 goals and four assists, while the Cavaliers are led by senior All-American midfielder Ashley McCulloch, who has a team-high 38 points off 20 goals and 18 assists.An advantage for James Madison could come at the draw controls. The Dukes are sixth in the country, averaging 16 draw controls a game. Although the Cavaliers average a close 13 per game, they recently have struggled with draw controls, which were a major factor in the games against Princeton and William & Mary. “Anytime you get those 50-50 balls and extra possessions, it gives you a chance to win the game,” Myers said.Virginia will need all the chances it can get, as it has not been the same team since it beat then-No. 3 Syracuse Feb. 27. The Cavaliers have lost three games, all against top-10 teams, since the win against the Orange, and the team’s wins have been close matches.For the Cavaliers to make a postseason run, they will need to regain their early season form. A win against JMU could help set Virginia in the right direction.“We need to get the fire back in us that we had at the beginning of the season,” senior defender Jen Holden said. “Coming off a three losses, it is a hard hit to us, but we are going to turn it around and we are going to keep working hard and get that fire back. I know we can.”
(03/23/09 5:54am)
The Virginia women’s lacrosse team could not avenge a last-second loss to Princeton last year as the Tigers emerged victorious again against the Cavaliers Saturday afternoon, winning 8-7.The No. 7 Cavaliers (6-3, 1-2 ACC) snapped their four-game streak of not scoring first, as junior attack Whitaker Hagerman scored the first of two goals off a spin move 48 seconds into the game. But No. 9 Princeton (5-1) dominated the first half, as senior midfielder Holly McGarvie tallied three goals, two assists and three winning draw controls. It was not until the last six minutes of the half that Virginia senior midfielder Blair Weymouth slowed down the Princeton attack with two goals to close the deficit to a manageable 6-4.After the break, Virginia, no stranger this season to being down at halftime, came out of the locker room firing. Junior midfielder Brittany Kalkstein knotted the game at six within 13 seconds at the beginning of the second half. The Tigers then responded with two goals to take an 8-6 lead with 24 minutes to go. For the next 14 minutes, the Cavaliers had several opportunities to find the back of the net; they were unsuccessful, however, as several shots hit the pipes.“In the second half, they were knocking down our feeds, so I think they did a much better job playing that dump in the middle,” Virginia coach Julie Myers said. “Clearly in the first half there [were] great opportunities; we just didn’t score often enough on them.”Senior midfielder Ashley McCulloch broke the scoring drought with 10 minutes left in the game to bring the Cavaliers within one, but Virginia failed to score again.“We had the opportunities, we had the possessions, we had the looks, we had the right kids with the ball,” Myers said. ”We just didn’t seal it with a goal. It just wasn’t our day today to win this game.”Princeton sophomore goalkeeper Erin Tochihara stymied the Cavalier attack all afternoon, recording seven saves. Weymouth’s two goals and an assist — en route to recording her 50th career multiple-goal game — and McCulloch’s one goal and two assists helped the Virginia offense, but the squad converted on seven of its 20 shots, its lowest total of the season.“I think we were just forcing it a little too much,” Weymouth said. “We didn’t let the plays work out as well as we could have. We forced it in and a lot of the time the Princeton sticks just knocked it down, and then we were one and done.”Virginia now faces a quick turnaround, as it heads down Interstate 64 to take on No. 16 James Madison Tuesday night.
(03/20/09 6:31am)
The No. 9 Virginia women’s lacrosse team will host No. 7 Princeton Saturday at Klöckner Stadium. The Cavaliers (6-2, 1-2 ACC) are coming off of a hard fought overtime win against in-state rival William & Mary earlier this week. Virginia has been in somewhat of a slump since it beat then-No. 3 Syracuse three weeks ago. In the four games since that victory, the Cavaliers have lost to then-No. 3 Maryland and then-No. 9 North Carolina, and needed overtime to escape with wins against two other opponents.The Tigers (4-1) meanwhile, have faced three ranked opponents this season, defeating Johns Hopkins and Penn State but losing to Duke. Virginia also was able to overcome Penn State, defeating the Nittany Lions 12-11 in overtime.“I think we are going to have close games,” Virginia coach Julie Myers said. “Gone are the days when you show up and because you are Virginia you are going to win by eight because people are intimidated.”Virginia also will have to contend with an impressive sophomore between the pipes: Princeton goalkeeper Erin Tochihara. Tochihara was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week Monday for her performance against Penn State in which she stopped 13 shots — nine of which were in the first half. Tochihara recorded a career-high 16 saves in a losing effort against Duke, and she is only allowing 8.54 goals per game.Tochihara’s play could pose difficulties for the Cavaliers, who have recently struggled with their offensive efficiency. They are only converting 44.5 percent of their shots on goal and could have a hard time scoring against Tochihara, who is first in the Ivy League in save percentage (.594) and saves per game (10.25).“We don’t want all of the games to be easy because then we are just going to keep going through the motions,” junior attack Whitaker Hagerman said. “[Our opponents] just keep pushing us. We know that no matter what all of our competitors every single game are going to be tough.”The Tigers do not have any superstar players on offense; they are, however, a balanced group, as six players have recorded at least six goals this season. The Tigers have played close games this entire season, with their largest margin of victory or loss being four goals.Virginia should prepare itself for another defensive-minded game and will have to make the most of its scoring opportunities. Virginia still has a long way to go before the NCAA Tournament, and the game this weekend against Princeton could provide some beneficial experience against a high-caliber opponent.“We still have a lot of games ahead of us and we need to work on a lot of different things and hopefully we will win in the end when it really matters,” senior midfielder Blair Weymouth said. “We will be a much better team come May.”
(03/18/09 5:21am)
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.