Virginia Ends Season with 15-12 Loss to JMU
May 13, 2018
HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Virginia women’s lacrosse team (10-10) fell 15-12 to JMU (19-1) in the 2018 NCAA Second Round on Sunday afternoon at Sentara Park in Harrisonburg, Va.
Virginia scored first and took a 2-0 lead. The Cavaliers remained in front until a 5-0 run by the Dukes to close the first half sent UVA into the break down 7-4. JMU stretched its lead to 8-4 but UVA responded with back-to-back goals. The teams traded goals until two straight for the Cavaliers cut it to 10-9. UVA would pull within one again but could not get any close as JMU took the 15-12 win.
“I thought it was a really well played and hard fought game out of two really competitive programs,” head coach Julie Myers said. “If we could play the last five minutes of the first half over, I think it would be a different game but I am proud of our effort and our character. We were tested time and again by a really dangerous offensive team in JMU and we were able to make stops and answer back. We ran out of time at the end but proud of the effort and how resilient we played.”
Junior Avery Shoemaker (Wyndmoor, Pa.) and sophomore Sammy Mueller (Pelham, N.Y.) each finished with four goals to lead UVA. Senior Kasey Behr (Northport, N.Y.) had two goals and one assist, while fellow senior Ana Hagerup (Washington, D.C.) and junior Maggie Jackson (Alexandria, Va.) each had one goal and one assist.
Mueller led the Cavaliers with nine draw controls. Sophomore Lauren Martin (McLean, Va.) had two caused turnovers to pace the defense and senior Rachel Vander Kolk (Severna Park, Md.) had five saves and three ground balls.
Virginia was on the board first with Shoemaker spinning by her defender for a goal. The Cavaliers added to the lead when Mueller scored to make it a 2-0 at 26:26. JMU responded with a goal, but 37 seconds later Behr sent her first goal of the day in with the assist from Jackson. JMU cut it back to one with 23:49 to play.
Behr ran past two Dukes defenders and scored from just inside the eight-meter to put UVA in the lead 4-2 with 12:31 to go in the first. The Dukes would go on a 5-0 run to close out the first half and lead 7-4 at the break.
After a JMU goal to begin the second half, Shoemaker cut through the JMU defense for her second goal of the afternoon. Senior Ana Hagerup (Washington, D.C.) then found Mueller right in front of the net for a score to cut it to 8-6. JMU scored and Mueller responded to cut it back to two with 20:33 to go. The Dukes scored again as the teams traded goals.
Hagerup converted a free position then Behr found Shoemaker in transition as UVA pulled within one, 10-9, with 15:28 to play. JMU hit back with back-to-back goals to take a 12-9 lead. The Cavaliers cut it back to one, 12-11, as Mueller scored then Shoemaker converted a free position with 9:22 remaining. JMU extended its lead back to three with two consecutive goals.
Mueller won her eighth draw of the afternoon and the Cavaliers found Jackson, who ran past her defender to score and cut it to 14-12. JMU would add a goal at 2:18 and hold on for the 15-12 win.
Virginia trailed JMU in shots (29-22), ground balls (14-10) and draw controls (17-11). The Cavaliers had 14 turnovers to 18 for the Dukes and five saves to three. UVA converted 3-of-5 free position shots, while holding JMU to three goals on 11 attempts.