No. 12 Virginia Closes Out Three-Game Road Swing at No. 9 Syracuse Sunday

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 12 Virginia women’s lacrosse team closes out its three-game road swing Sunday afternoon, playing No. 9 Syracuse in the Carrier Dome. Opening draw is slated for 12:30 p.m.

The game will be televised in the Syracuse area by Time Warner Sports, while live statistics will be available at VirginiaSports.com.

The Cavaliers bring a 1-1 record into the contest and are coming off a dominating victory over in-state rival Richmond, 23-13, on Wednesday. Ten different Cavaliers scored in the game, led by junior Josie Owen’s game-high seven points on four goals and three assists.

Owen and classmate Julie Gardner lead the attack this year with nine points each – both on five goals and four assists. Defensively, sophomore goalkeeper Kim Kolarik has scooped up a team-high nine ground balls.

The Orange (1-1) comes into the game following an 11-10 setback to No. 13 Stanford on Sunday. Syracuse was led by Sarah Holden, who scored a career-high three goals in the contest.

This season, Tee Ladoucear leads Syracuse’s offense with six goals – all in the Orange’s season-opening win over Colgate. In cage for Syracuse, Liz Hogan is stopping 52.2 percent of shots faced.

In the all-time series between the two programs, the Cavaliers lead, 9-3. Virginia and Syracuse have met every year since 1999, with UVa currently holding a six-game win streak in the series. The Cavaliers won the first three meetings with the Orange, before Syracuse won the next three to even the series. Syracuse’s last victory was in 2004, as the Orange escaped Charlottesville with a 14-13 victory.

In last year’s meeting, the Cavaliers upset the Orange for a 14-13 victory at UVa’s University Hall Turf Field.

Following the contest, the Cavaliers will return home to host two games next weekend. Virginia will open the home portion of its schedule with 2010 NCAA Champion No. 1 Maryland on Friday, March 4, before hosting No. 18 Penn State on Sunday, March 6. Opening draw with the Terrapins is slated for 7 p.m., while the contest with the Nittany Lions is scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Virginia women’s lacrosse program will retire the number one in honor and remembrance of Yeardley Love in a ceremony prior to the Penn State game.