The sixth-ranked Virginia women’s lacrosse team was handed its first defeat of the season, falling at No. 3 Maryland 12-9 on Friday (March 2) night. The loss dropped UVa’s record to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
With the win, Maryland improved to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in league play.
Virginia’s Josie Owen (Gibson Island, Md.) scored four goals and added three assists to lead the Cavaliers offensively. Five other Cavaliers scored one goal each – Liza Blue (Butler, Md.), Julie Gardner (Severna Park, Md.), Jess Loizeaux (Mullica Hill, N.J.), Daniela Eppler (Baltimore, Md.) and Ainsley Baker (Corning, N.Y.).
Charlie Finnigan (Twickenham, Middlesex, England) contributed two assists, while Gardner notched one assist in addition to her goal.
In goal for Virginia, junior Kim Kolarik (Riva, Md.) registered nine saves.
The Cavaliers were out-shot, 27-16. Maryland held a 12-11 advantage in draw controls and a 10-9 advantage in ground balls.
Maryland led 5-2 at halftime and held a significant advantage in shots (18-7). After back-to-back Terrapin goals to open the game, Virginia got on the board on a goal by Baker at the 16:14 mark. Owen dished out her team-high ninth assist of the season on the score.
With a 2-1 lead, Maryland scored back-to-back goals again and went up 4-1 at the 3:24 mark. Owen came up again for Virginia, however, and scored an unassisted goal, her fifth of the season, with 1:24 left in the half. Maryland’s Katie Schwarzmann scored the half’s final goal with 31 seconds left to put Maryland up, 5-2.
In the second half, Maryland scored twice during a span of nine seconds to take a 7-2 lead, but Virginia put together a 3-0 run to pull to within 7-5 at the 20:57 mark. The three Cavalier goals were scored by Loizeaux on an assist by Finnigan, Blue from Owen and Owen on an assist by Gardner.
Maryland responded with a goal by McPartland on a freeposition shot at the 19:44 mark to take an 8-5 lead.
Virginia had another run in it, as Owen and Eppler scored back-to-back goals at 15:50 and 13:12 to make it a one-goal game, 8-7, in favor of Maryland.
The Terps responded with three-consecutive goals, however, to counter the UVa run and preserve their lead. The final score was 12-9 byvirtue of goals by Owen and Gardner sandwiched by one more Terrapin goal.
UVa continues its road swing with a Sunday (March 4) game at No. 19 Penn State. First draw is scheduled for 1 p.m., in State College, Pa.
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Chris Graham
