#9 UVa. women’s lax holds off ODU

No. 9 Virginia held off a late Old Dominion rally and earned a 14-13 victory in women’s lacrosse action on Wednesday (March 28) night at Klöckner Stadium.

The victory was the Cavaliers’ third-consecutive win and improved UVa’s overall record to 7-4 on the season. Old Dominion’s record went to 3-7 overall. The game’s start time was delayed one hour and 25 minutes due to severe weather in the Charlottesville area.

“We ended up winning just enough draw controls and scoring just enough goals in the end,” Virginia head coach Julie Myers said. “We’ll take it as a win and move on, but clearly there are lots of things that need to be fixed before our next outing.”

Junior Anne Thomas (Baltimore, Md.) and freshman Sloan Warren (Philadelphia, Pa.) scored threegoals each to lead the UVa attack as eight different Cavaliers scored.

Virginia built a 9-4 halftime lead and ended up needing it, as the Lady Monarchs out-scored Virginia in the second half, 9-5.

In the final 10 minutes of the contest and with Virginia clinging to a 13-10 lead, Warren converted a free position shot at the 9:03 mark to give Virginia a four-goal cushion.

Old Dominion scored the game’s final three goals, including the last one at the 1:12 mark, to pull within one goal down the stretch.

After ODU midfielder Emily Austerberry’s goal made the score 14-13, Virginia defender Lelan Bailey (Millersville, Md.) earned the crucial ensuing draw control. Virginia maintained possession to earn the victory.

Charlie Finnigan (Twickenham, Middlesex, England) and Ainsley Baker (Corning, N.Y.) each scored two goals, while Josie Owen (Gibson Island, Md.) added a goal and a team-high two assists. Baker, Warren and Finnigan had one assist apiece in addition to their goals.

Virginia out-shot Old Dominion, 31-26, and held a 20-9 advantage in draw controls.

UVa goalkeeper Kim Kolarik (Riva, Md.) finished with seven saves and a team-high three ground balls.

Warren and Daniela Eppler (Baltimore, Md.) led the squad with four draw controls each, while Owen and Maddy Keeshan (Greenwich, Conn.) each caused a team-high two turnovers.

Up next, Virginia remains home for a Saturday (March 31) contest against Boston College at 1 p.m. The senior class of Owen, Baker, Finnigan, Julie Gardner (Severna Park, Md.) and Anne Taylor (Alexandria, Va.) will be honored prior to the game.