No. 3 Women's Lacrosse Outlasts Penn State

Story Links

March 22, 1998

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. The third-ranked Virginia women’s lacrosse team survived a furious rally by eighth-ranked Penn State to defeat the Nittany Lions 11-10 in State College. Senior captain Beth Potter (Swarthmore, Pa./Ridley) scored her second goal with 10:36 remaining to give the Cavaliers an 11-8 advantage, but the Lions scored two goals in 69 seconds to close to 11-10. The Cavalier defense, led by senior captain Peggy Boutilier (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park Country), shut down the Lions over the last 6:35 to hold on for the win.

The Nittany Lions got on the board first with a goal five minutes into the game. But the Cavalier attack stepped up, led by senior captain Kara Ariza (Lansdowne, Pa./Penn Wood), who scored two consecutive goals. Ariza scored on a free position one minute after the Penn State goal to tie the game, and then connected from Potter eight minutes later to put the Cavaliers up 2-1, a lead they would never relinquish. Potter scored herself 42 seconds later to give the Cavaliers a 3-1 advantage.

After Penn State pulled within one with a goal at the 13:02 mark, the Cavaliers, led by Mia Mooney (Penn Valley, Pa./Shipley)’s two goals and Lacey Aumiller (Baltimore, Md./Notre Dame Prep)’s goal and assist, scored three goals in a 2:30 span to go up 6-2. Penn State’s Brooke Bailey scored twice in two minutes to pull the Lions close at 6-4, but Ariza’s third goal of the half gave the Cavaliers a 7-4 haftime lead.

Penn State came out roaring in the second half as Julie Tice scored once and assisted on another goal to cut the Cavalier lead to 7-6 five minutes into the second stanza. But the Cavaliers reeled off three consecutive goals, one each from Boutilier, Mooney, and Samm Taylor (Springfield, Va./Robinson) in a three minute clip to push the lead back to 10-6. Penn State scored two minutes later to cut the lead to 10-8, but Potter’s goal with 10:36 left moved the Cavalier advantage to 11-8. The Lions got two quick goals in 69 seconds, and had possession of the ball four times in the final two minutes, but could not get off a shot as Virginia held on for the win.

Defensively, the Cavaliers were led by goalie Heather Castle (Timonium, Md./Notre Dame Prep), who made five saves on the evening. Four Cavaliers–Melissa Hayes (Chevy Chase, Md.,/Georgetown Visitation), Aumiller, Kelly Allenbach (West Chester, Pa./W. C. Henderson), and Amy Fromal (Folsom, Pa./Ridley) each picked up three ground balls while Boutilier, Allenbach, and Taylor led Virginia with two caused turnovers each. Boutilier led all Cavaliers with three draw controls.

The Cavaliers host a pair of top-ten teams this week as the #8 William and Mary Tribe come to Charlottesville on Wednesday at 4:00. On Saturday, the top-ranked and undefeated North Carolina Tar Heels will face the Cavaliers. Game time against UNC is 2:00 at the University Hall Turf Field.

            1   2   Final (Records)Virginia    7   4   11    (4-1)Penn State  4   6   10    (3-3)Scoring: Goals (V):  Ariza 3, Mooney 3, Potter 2, Boutilier, Taylor, Aumiller                (P): Mechem 3, Kenney 2, Bailey 2, Videon, Tice, Johnson, Assists: (V): Potter 2, Hook 2, Hull, Aumiller          (P): Kenney 2, Tice, MechemClearing: V: 9-13, P: 8-17      Draw controls: V: 11, P:12          Caused Turnovers: V:9, P: 5Ground balls: V: 28, P: 34      Fouls: V: 13, P: 17             Shots: V: 27; P: 28Saves: V: 9 (Castle 9); P: 10 (Ames 9, Retzlaff 1)