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No. 5 Virginia Opens Home Schedule Against No. 1 Maryland Friday
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 5 Virginia women’s lacrosse team will open the home portion of its schedule this weekend hosting the 2010 NCAA Champion, No. 1 Maryland, Friday at Klöckner Stadium. Opening draw is slated for 7 p.m. Live statistics can be found on VirginiaSports.com.
Virginia (2-1, 0-0 ACC) is coming off a 2-0 week in which the Cavaliers scored a combined 44 goals in road wins at Richmond and then-No. 9 Syracuse. Virginia saw 10 Cavaliers score in a 23-13 routing of the Spiders, before five Cavaliers notched hat tricks in an upset win over the Orange, 21-11.
The Cavaliers are led this year by a trio of juniors – Charlie Finnigan, Julie Gardner and Josie Owen. Finnigan and Gardner have each recorded 15 points, Finnigan on 11 goals and four assists, while Gardner has notched nine goals and a team-high six assists. Owen has eight goals and five assists for 13 points.
Defensively, sophomore Kim Kolarik leads the team with 10 ground balls and Owen has won 12 draw controls.
Maryland (4-0, 1-0 ACC) is currently on a 14-game win streak and enters the contest looking to build on an 18-11 win over then-No. 3 Duke last week. Karri Ellen Johnson and Katie Schwarzmann split offensive and defensive weekly honors from the ACC this week for their efforts in helping the Terrapins earn their first conference win this year. Schwarzmann leads Maryland with 18 goals this season, while Johnson has tacked on 17.
In goal for Maryland, Brittany Dipper has posted an ACC-best 6.54 goals-against average, while stopping 45.2 percent of shots faced.
In the all-time series between the two schools, the Terrapins hold the advantage, 34-17, and swept last year’s two meetings. In the regular-season match-up, Maryland used a seven-goal run in the second half to earn an 11-5 victory. In the ACC Tournament, the Terrapins knocked off the Cavaliers with a 10-6 win.
Following the contest, the Cavaliers will continue their weekend homestand with a game against Penn State on Sunday at 1 p.m. Prior to the start of the contest, Virginia will retire the number one in honor and remembrance of Yeardley Love.