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April 30, 2003
No one can argue a better way to end a successful regular season than to beat the #1 team in the nation by coming from behind and scoring three goals in the last 68 seconds of the game. That’s what the Virginia Women’s Lacrosse team did Tuesday night, April 29th against top-ranked Loyola. According to Head Coach Julie Myers, the team’s cohesiveness helped lead the Cavaliers to a victory.
“There were several keys to our win over Loyola, but overall, the kids stuck together and believed in each other. From our play on attack and on defense to our support on the bench, everyone put 100% effort into getting it done and believing until the very last second of the game.”
Virginia ends its regular season play with a record of 14-4 and awaits NCAA Tournament selections on Sunday, May 4th. The First Round of the Tournament will take place Thursday, May 8th at a location to be announced. For the most part, Virginia plans to remain true to the methods they’ve practiced from the beginning in preparation for the post season.
“We focused on getting better each game as the season progressed,” says Myers, “and preparing for the tournament will be no different. Getting better means tightening up in all areas and that means making slight changes, but we’ll continue to stick to principles that have guided us all season long as we enter tournament play.”
When asked what to credit to the team’s success this spring, Myers states, “The team had individual growing pains early on. Some kids wanted chances they weren’t always getting, but along the way and especially in the last few weeks, the team has taken giant steps forward as far as rallying behind players and realizing what’s best for the group’s success.”
Several leading ladies anchor this year’s team-two Fifth-Year seniors, Tiffany Schummer and Lauri Kenis along with Fourth-Year Seniors Lauren Aumiller, Courtney Muller, and Lindsay Buchanan.
“Schummer and Kenis, two Fifth-Years who returned for us this year, have greatly influenced the team with their leadership and amount of expertise in college play. They’re the only players to have experienced a Final Four, and the team has rallied around them, wanting them to know they returned for a reason. Lauren Aumiller and Courtney Muller are great players as well, and certainly worthy of success in the NCAA Tournament. We’re excited, morale is way up, and we’re ready for next week.”
Check back with virginiasports.com on Monday, May 5th for the announcement of times and host locations for the First Round of the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship Tournament.