No. 9 Virginia Defeats Princeton, 9-7

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March 16, 2013

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 9 Virginia women’s lacrosse team held off a late charge by the Princeton Tigers to earn a 9-7 victory on Saturday (March 16) at Klöckner Stadium in Charlottesville.

“I think we played pretty tough and pretty consistently throughout the game,” said head coach Julie Myers. “A lot of credit goes to Princeton. They are a really well-coached team. They executed really well and never let us run away with anything and were able to close that gap at the end. It was a hard-earned win all around.”

Morgan Stephens (So., Olney, Md.) set the tone early, staking the Cavaliers to a 1-0 lead on a free position goal 20 seconds into the game. Virginia built the lead to 4-1 on Stephens second goal 9:18 into the period. After Princeton made it 4-2, Virginia added two more scores in the final 10 minutes of the half, a free position shot from Dana Boyle (Jr., Londonderry, N.H.) with 6:04 remaining and an unassisted goal from Ashlee Warner (Jr., Corning, N.Y.) with 1:34 left in the period, to go into the break up 6-2.

Casey Bocklet (So., South Salem, N.Y.) scored her team-leading 23rd goal of the season 1:41 into the second half, putting UVa up 7-2.

Trailing 8-4, Princeton scored two goals in a three-minute span to trail 8-6 with 16:15 remaining. Warner added an insurance goal with 9:28 remaining to push the UVa lead back to three, 9-6.

Princeton, who outshot the Cavaliers 14-9 in the second half, netted a goal with 2:04 left in the game to again pull within two, 9-7.

Virginia won the ensuing draw control, but turned the ball over with 1:24 remaining. Princeton’s attack got the ball down field with Charlotte Davis getting a good look at the net with 42 seconds remaining. Kim Kolarik (Sr., Riva, Md.) got the save with possession going to the Cavaliers.

Virginia again turned the ball over on the clear attempt, with Kolarik coming up with another big save with the seconds ticking down. Again, she retained the ball and this time was able to run out the final few seconds of the clock to secure the win.

Boyle, Warner, Bocklet and Stephens scored two goals apiece with Bocklet adding an assist. Caroline McTiernan (Sr., Garden City, N.Y.) scored UVa’s remaining goal.

Kolarik had 10 saves, the second time this season she logged double-digit saves. She also had seven ground balls. Courtney Swan (So., Vero Beach, Fla.) had five of Virginia’s 10 draw controls.

“Even though it was spring break, we really prepared all week,” Boyle said. “This was a huge game for us. We focused on the draws and focused on high pressure. They are a skilled team. We knew that and just went really hard during practice.”

With the win, Virginia pulls back to an even 4-4 record (0-2 ACC). Princeton loses its second game of the season, falling to 3-2 (1-0 Ivy).

The Cavaliers will play a midweek game on Wednesday, March 20 at James Madison. Virginia returns home to host No. 6 Duke on Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m.

Tickets for Virginia home lacrosse games can be purchased online at VirginiaSports.com, by phone at (800) 542-8821 or in person at the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Single game tickets to lacrosse games are $8 for adult general admission), and $6 for youth, seniors, and UVa faculty and staff general admission.