This weekend, the No. 4 men (13-6, 3-1, MASC) and No. 6 women (13-7, 4-2, MASC) navigated a gauntlet of competition at the CSA Team Championships to secure their sixth and fifth consecutive top-eight national finishes, respectively.
The Panthers attempted a late fourth-quarter comeback, making three goals to narrow the gap to 9-7 — but junior midfielder Kate Galica slammed the door shut, netting a final goal with less than a minute remaining and sealing the 10-7 victory for Virginia.
In 1987, Freeland was the first African American athlete in the ACC to help Virginia earn an ACC Championship — the team’s first — marking a major milestone for the program.
Virginia fought hard in all positions against Trinity, however ultimately fell in a close loss to the Bantams who, on both sides, just earned their 19th consecutive NESCAC Championship.
“We can still improve on finishing better in some moments,” said LaMonica. “But this group is continuing to pound the rock and focused on getting better each day."
Despite the 0–3 start, this matchup proved that Virginia is still dangerous when it has the ball — the issue is maintaining possession over longer stretches.
Following a 2025 season that saw the Cavaliers navigate growing pains in their new era under Coach Sonia LaMonica, the team now finds itself at a critical turning point.
It was a weekend of clinical accuracy for Virginia squash as both the men's and women's teams showcased why they remain fixed in the nation's top tier.
"This was a team performance that showed that this year's team acquiring their highest CSA national ranking ever is no fluke,” assistant coach Mark Broekman said, “... A brilliant team performance by all."
With Virginia's early momentum — punctuated by their victory at Head of the Charles — Joe believes Virginia has built the foundation it needs, giving the team a crucial sense of belief as they continue their push forward toward collegiate rowing's highest stage, the NCAA Championships in May.
