“Building our resiliency has been a big focus coming into this game,” LaMonica said. “Louisville is a tough team, and we demonstrated better response to setbacks today, especially when it mattered most.”
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.
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.
As a whole, the Cavaliers outshot Notre Dame by a 26-15 margin. Although 26 shots signaled a successful attacking outing, allowing just 15 shots from a top-five team might be even more impressive.
“The men were superb today, rising to the occasion and feeding off a packed home crowd,” Allen said. “Drexel got the better of us on their courts just three weeks ago, so to turn that result around, and in such emphatic style, was hugely impressive.”
The Cavaliers’ loss was characterized by lapses in defensive judgment.
Three Cavaliers from both of Virginia’s squash squads competed in the CSA Individual Championships over the weekend — playing against the premier collegiate squash players from around the country.
Facing tough Ivy League opponents this early in the season should help new additions to the roster acclimate to college squash and remind veterans of the speed of some of the nation’s best.
Three beat writers analyze what Virginia needs to fix, and how this super talented squad can return to the College Cup for the first time since 2021.
With an Oct. 30 win against Boston College, Swanson reached 500 wins.
