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CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia women’s lacrosse team will look to rebound from its first loss of the season this past Tuesday. After the No. 2 Cavaliers dropped an 8-5 contest to No. 5 Maryland, Virginia will travel to Happy Valley to face No. 18 Penn State at 5 p.m. on Friday.
The Terrapins, who were coming off a tough last second loss to No. 3 Duke, were led by Dana Dobbie’s three goals and an assist, in addition to six draw controls. Junior Ashley McCulloch led the Cavaliers with a goal and two assists in the contest, while sophomore Kaitlin Duff contributed a team-high two goals.
Virginia, facing two top-five ranked teams in four days, will look to right it’s ship tomorrow as it takes on the Nittany Lions of Penn State, in Holuba Hall. PSU is 1-1 so far this season, as they convincingly won their home opener last weekend, 18-3, over Colgate after dropping an 8-7 decision to Temple in Philadelphia, Pa., Sunday Feb. 24.
Ten Nittany Lions netted goals in the victory over Colgate, giving 12 Lions at least one goal this season. Mary LeNoir leads the way with five points on the season, while Erica Mihm has collected eight draw controls.
In goal, Jess Boccio is allowing just 6.42 goals per game, while stopping .656 percent of shots faced.
For Virginia, junior Ashley McCulloch leads the offense with 17 points and 11 assists. Senior Megan O’Malley has also reached double-digit points, with 10, scoring nine goals with a helper. Sophomore Brittany Kalkstein has collected 13 draw controls and 12 ground balls.
In goal, senior Kendall McBrearty is putting a stop to 50 percent of opponents’ shots, while allowing 7.25 per game. McBrearty currently leads the ACC in both categories.
These two squads have met at least once every year dating back to 1983. Thanks to a recent 10-1 record against the Nittany Lions, the Cavaliers have knotted the all-time series at 14 wins each, with the winner of this match-up gaining a one-game advantage. Penn State won the first 10 meetings between the two schools from 1983-91. Virginia then won the next three from 1991-92. The two traded wins before the Cavaliers went on to win 10 of the last 11 meetings.
In Happy Valley, the Cavaliers are 7-4, with their last loss a 10-9 decision in 1996. Virginia is currently on a two-game win streak over the Nittany Lions.
Virginia will conclude its three-match road tilt, traveling just down the road to Williamsburg to face William & Mary on Wednesday, March 12. Opening draw with the Tribe is set for 7 p.m.