Cavaliers Look to Remain Perfect Against Monarchs

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. Wednesday’s game marks the first of a two-game home stand for the No. 4 Virginia women’s lacrosse team. The Cavaliers will play host to Old Dominion this Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Klockner Stadium and ACC-rival Boston College on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Monarchs bring an unblemished 4-0 record to Charlottesville, the third team to put an undefeated record on the line against the Cavaliers, but Virginia holds a perfect all-time 31-0 series record against ODU. Earlier this season, the Cavaliers spoiled No. 4 Syracuse’s hopes of a perfect season, while No. 4 Princeton escaped with a last second goal for a win over the Cavaliers to remain undefeated.

Old Dominion and Virginia have met a total of 31 times, at least once in every year since 1980. The Cavaliers have won more games over the Monarchs than any other opponent, and ODU and Virginia Tech are the only two schools that Virginia has faced more than 10 times, yet never lost to.

In last years meeting, then-sophomore Blair Weymouth led Virginia to a 10-7 win with four points. For Old Dominion, Sara Larson stopped 17 shots.

This season, Larson is leading the backfield, stopping .603 percent of shots faced, while only allowing 6.75 goals per game. At the other end of the field, Kelly Kimener has won 10 draw controls and tallied 15 points on the season, while Jessica Noone is the only Monarch to tally double-digit goals, with 10.

For Virginia, juniors Ashley McCulloch and Jenny Hauser lead the attack. McCulloch has 33 points on 12 goals and 21 assists, while Hauser holds the team lead with 20 goals and has added seven assists for 27 points.

Sophomores Kaitlin Duff and Brittany Kalkstein are leading the midfield. Duff has scooped up 24 ground balls, while Kalkstein has won 29 draw controls.

Up next, the Cavaliers will host Boston College for their final regular-season ACC match-up. Opening draw is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Klckner Stadium.