CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 21 Virginia women’s lacrosse team (5-5, 3-2 ACC) suffered a 12-10 loss against No. 9 Clemson (5-4, 2-3 ACC) on Saturday (March 14) at Klöckner Stadium in Charlottesville, Va.
Virginia held a 9-8 lead with 11:47 remaining in the game, but Clemson scored four-straight goals to build up a 12-9 advantage heading into the final three minutes of the game. Freshman Cady Flaherty scored with 2:39 remaining, but Clemson won the ensuing draw. The Cavaliers caused a turnover to get the ball back with a minute left, but Clemson’s defense held on for the victory.
Junior midfielder Kate Galica scored three goals with an assist. Junior attacker Madison Alaimo had four assists.
Clemson held an early 2-1 lead, but the Cavaliers scored five-straight to lead 6-2 with 10:16 remaining in the first half. Clemson scored back-to-back goals to narrow the margin, with a score from Galica halting a potential Tiger run. Clemson scored twice in the final 1:11 of the first half to make it a one-point Cavalier lead, 7-6, at the break.
Clemson tied the game midway through the third quarter, the first of three ties in the second half. Clemson’s goal with 7:59 remaining in the fourth quarter was the Tigers’ first lead of the game since being up 2-1 in the first quarter.
FROM HEAD COACH SONIA LAMONICA
“We've got to put four quarters together. I think this was the first time we saw a higher-pressure defense, the system that we faced today. I think we allowed it to take us out of = our abilities a little bit too much. We didn't have our best day in terms of our stick work connecting. There were lots of good moments as well, but we just lost steam at the end, and that's probably why we came out short today.”
VIRGINIA SCORING
GOALS: Kate Galica 3; Jayden Piraino 1; Jenna Dinardo 1; Cady Flaherty 1; Raleigh Foster 1; Megan Rocklein 1; Livy Laverghetta 1; Gabby Laverghetta 1
ASSISTS: Madison Alaimo 4; Jayden Piraino 1; Jenna Dinardo 1; Kate Galica 1
CLEMSON SCORING
GOALS: Emma Penczek 3, Aubrie Eisfeld 2; Alexa Spallina 1; Jasmine Stanton 1; Brooke Goldstein 1; Regan Byrne 1; Kayla Macleod 1; Natalie Shurtleff 1; Mikaela Mooney 1
ASSISTS: Alexa Spallina 2, Emma Penczek 1; Brooke Goldstein 1; Kayla Macleod 1; Natalie Shurtleff 1
NOTES
- Megan Rocklein scored her first career goal
- Eight different Cavaliers scored goals. Kate Galica was the only UVA player with more than one goal in the game
- Clemson held a 25-19 advantage in shots
- Virginia held a 12-11 edge in draw controls
- Each team made five saves
UP NEXT
- The Cavaliers host No. 14 Syracuse on Saturday, March 21, at 2 p.m. at Scott Stadium
- The game will be a doubleheader with the men's team (11 a.m. vs. Utah). One ticket is valid for both games
- All seats will be General Admission. Gates open 1 hour prior to the first game. All general ticket and entry policies still apply. Tickets are available at VirginiaSports.com/tickets
- The game will also feature a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of UVA’s first varsity women’s lacrosse game