Cavaliers Defeat Northwestern 15-11, Advance to National Semifinals

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May 16, 2004

Final Stats | Video Highlights

The fourth-years on the Virginia women’s lacrosse team walked the Lawn as part of their graduation exercises in the morning, and then put on a stellar performance in the NCAA quarterfinals as Virginia (17-3) advanced to the national semifinals with a 15-11 win over Northwestern (15-3) today in Charlottesville. Fourth-year Caitlin Banks led the Cavaliers with the opening goal of the game and four assists, while classmate Morgan Thalenberg had four draw controls, three caused turnovers, three goals and a pair of assists and fellow fourth-year Andrea Pfeiffer had 11 saves to lead the Cavalier defensive unit. The Cavaliers have tied the record for most wins in a season with today’s victory (1991, 1998).

Virginia jumped on top early as Thalenberg won the opening draw and got the ball to Banks, who drove in from the top and flipped a shovel shot into the cage just 47 seconds into the game. Thalenberg won the ensuing draw, and the Cavaliers settled their offense, but NU took the ball away and tried to advance it upfield. Thalenberg was there at midfield and checked the ball away. Amy Appelt scooped up the loose ball and drove to the cage where she was fouled on the way in. Appelt converted the 8-meter and Virginia led 2-0 six minutes into the game.

The ‘Cats then went on a three-goal run over a five minute span as Lindsey Munday took it to the cage two minutes after Appelt, and then converted a feed from Kristen Kjellman to tie the game a minute later. A Laura Glassanos goal four minutes later gave NU a 3-2 lead and marked the 18th consecutive game in which Glassanos has scored a goal.

The Cavaliers responded as Banks controlled the draw and Virginia took the ball behind the cage where Thalenberg took the ball to the side and fed Courtney Young, who was cutting across the arc. Young dumped the ball into the cage to tie it up less than a minute after NU took the lead. Banks again won the draw, and Virginia worked the ball around to Appelt, who took from the top and drew a shooting space foul. Appelt converted the 8-meter and put the Cavaliers back on top 4-3 15:12 into the game. Thalenberg won the draw and took it straight to the cage, scoring 12 seconds after Appelt and giving the Cavaliers a two-goal lead for the second time in the game. After NU won the draw, Elizabeth Pinney caused a turnover in the arc and Pfeiffer picked up the ground ball. She threw a long outlet pass to Kim Connors, who took it upfield before dishing it off to Thalenberg, who scored her second consecutive goal three minutes after her first one and gave Virginia a 6-3 lead, forcing the Cats to take a timeout.

Northwestern came out of the timeout and scored as Glassanos hit Kjellman for the first of what would be a game-high five goals for the ALC Rookie of the Year. Virginia answered right away as Ashleigh Haas won the ensuing draw and dumped it over to Banks. Haas ran behind the cage and cut up the arc where Banks tossed her the ball. Haas scored 36 seconds after Kjellman to push the margin back to three with 9:13 to play in the half. A Molly Urlock caused turnover and ground ball in midfield gave the ball back to the Cavaliers, and with the flow going towards the Cavalier goal, Urlock fed the ball up to Tyler Leachman who went against the flow and broke in for a shot. Her attempt was saved by NU keeper Ashley Gersuk, but Haas grubbed the loose ball and stuck it back in the cage to put the Cavaliers up 8-4. Kjellman fed Glassanos with two minutes to go in the half, and then Kjellman converted an 8-meter shot with 19 ticks on the clock to pull the ‘Cats within two at 8-6, which was the score at the break.

Northwestern continued to attack, winning the opening draw of the second half courtesy of Jenny Bush, and Kjellman brought the ‘Cats within a goal with her 8-meter goal five minutes into the half. She then tied it up, converting a feed from Sarah Albrecht to pull the ‘Cats level at 8-8 with 22:46 to play.

Pfeiffer made a point-blank save on a shot that would have given the Cats the lead again, and Virginia brought the ball upfield where they settled their attack and Thalenberg took possession of the ball behind the cage. Appelt drove to the goal, took the feed from Thalenberg, and scored her third goal of the game to give UVa the lead again with 19:38 to play. NU gained possession but an overthrow in their offensive end came out over the restraining line where Appelt picked it up and took it fifty yards upfield before dishing it off to Thalenberg, who scored her third goal of the game and pushed the margin back to two at 10-8. An NU shot sailed just over the pipe and Jess Wasiliewski raced behind to get the ground ball, starting a Virginia transition where Nikki Lieb fed a streaking Leachman, who scored with 8:57 to play, giving the Cavaliers a three goal lead at 11-8. NU responded 46 seconds later as Munday notched an 8-meter goal, cutting the deficit back to two.

Another errant Northwestern shot on a breakaway sailed over the cage, and Pfeiffer beat the attacker to the ball, giving the Cavaliers possession behind the cage. Virginia advanced the ball back upfield where Appelt rolled the crease and gave Virginia a three-goal lead at 12-9 with 6:48 to play. The ‘Cats, though, would not go away and Kjellman notched her game-leading fifth goal of the game with a drive to the cage 32 seconds after Appelt’s score to bring NU within two at 12-10.

Virginia won the draw and took it upfield to increase their lead, but NU got possession and Gersuk tried to start a clear, but Thalenberg caused a turnover and picked up the loose ball, giving the Cavaliers possession again. Virginia spread their offense, and Banks fed Leachman, who was cutting through the arc from the of the fan. Leachman’s goal at 56:28 gave Virginia a 13-10 lead. Leachman then won the draw control and Virginia attacked immediately as Banks fed Lieb, who was cutting towards the cage. Lieb scored 47 seconds after Leachman to give the Hoos a 14-10 lead. A Courtney Young draw control gave the Cavaliers possession, and again Virginia spread their offense before Banks fed Lieb for her second consecutive goal and Banks’ fourth assist of the game, giving Virginia a 15-10 lead. NU closed the scoring as Kjellman caused a turnover on the restraining line and ran the ball upfield where she dished it off to Angela McMahon, who scored with 22 seconds to play and accounted for the final NU goal.

With the win, the Cavaliers advance to the NCAA semifinals where they will play Georgetown at Princeton University on Friday, May 21 at approximately 8:30.

Appelt’s four goals give her 82 for the season, adding to her school-record total and moving her to #10 all-time in Division I history for goals in a season. She also moved to #10 all-time in points in a season with her 110 thus far in 2004.

Banks’ four assists give her 75 for her career and move her just ahead of Appelt for #3 all-time on the UVa career charts.

Pfeiffer’s 11 saves give her 177 for the season and she now has the #4 and #5 single-season performances all-time at Virginia.

Linescore	1	2	F	recordsNorthwestern	6	5	11	(15-3)Virginia		8	7	15	(17-3)

Scoring summary:0:47 V Banks 1-05:54 V Appelt (FP) 2-08:07 N Munday 2-19:12 N Munday (Kjellman) 2-213:09 N Glassanos 2-314:04 V Young (Thalenberg) 3-315:12 V Appelt (FP) 4-315:24 V Thalenberg 5-318:14 V Thalenberg (Connors) 6-320:11 N Kjellman (Glassanos) 6-420:47 V Haas (Banks) 7-425:06 V Haas 8-428:00 N Glassanos (Kjellman) 8-529:41 N Kjellman (FP) 8-635:05 N Kjellman (FP) 8-737:14 N Kjellman (Albrecht) 8-840:22 V Appelt (Thalenberg) 9-844:08 V Thalenberg 10-851:03 V Leachman (Lieb) 11-851:49 N Munday (FP) 11-953:12 V Appelt 12-953:44 N Kjellman 12-1056:28 V Leachman (Banks) 13-1057:15 V Lieb (Banks) 14-1058:56 V Lieb (Banks) 15-1059:39 N McMahon (Kjellman) 15-11

Goals: V: Appelt 4, Thalenberg 3, Leachman 2, Haas 2, Lieb 2, Young, Banks N: Kjellman 5, Munday 3, Glassanos 2, McMahon

Assists: V: Banks 4, Thalenberg 2, Connors, Lieb N: Kjellman 3, Albrecht, Glassanos

Goalies: V: Pfeiffer (60 mins, 11 saves, 11 GA) N: Gersuk (60 mins, 11 saves, 15 GA)

Draws: V 17, N11Shots: V 31, N 26Ground balls: V 25, N 258-meter placements: V 6, N 68-meter shots: V: 6, N 5Caused turnovers: V 12, N 13Fouls: V 23, N 20Clearing: V 10-14, N 10-13Turnovers: V 21, N 16