CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – In a defensive struggle, the No. 19 Virginia women’s lacrosse team (5-6, 3-3 ACC) fell 6-5 to No. 10 Syracuse (7-3, 4-2 ACC) on Saturday (March 21) at Scott Stadium, the primary venue of UVA football.
Among those in attendance were more than 300 UVA women’s lacrosse alumnae and their families, who gathered to celebrate the program’s 50th anniversary. Since the Cavaliers’ first game on March 19, 1976, Virginia has earned 694 victories, three NCAA titles, five ACC Championships, and made 14 Final Four appearances.
With Virginia trailing 6-4 midway through the fourth, UVA midfielder Livy LaVerghetta broke a 32:35 scoring drought for the Cavaliers. Her fourth-quarter strike was one of only two goals by either team in the second half. Minutes later, UVA goalie Elyse Finnelle (5-4), who tallied 10 saves on the day, stopped an SU shot from inside the eight-meter arc to keep the Cavaliers within striking distance. Virginia tried to find a scoring opportunity in the final minute, but to no avail as the Orange’s defense made a stop on game’s final possession to hold on for their seventh consecutive victory.
Virginia junior midfielder Kate Galica led the Hoos on offense with two goals and an assist. Sophomore Cavalier attacker Jayden Piraino also chipped in two goals.
The Orange took an early lead, scoring three of their six first-half goals on free-position attempts. Both Galica and Piraino’s pairs of goals came in the first half. Finnelle made five saves in the first 30 minutes of action to keep SU's offense at bay. The Cavaliers trailed 5-4 heading into halftime.
After both teams traded offensive opportunities for the first seven minutes of the third quarter, it was the Orange who struck first to extend their lead to two [6-4]. Finnelle made four saves in the third before sophomore midfielder Livy LaVerghetta ended a UVA scoring drought with 7:02 left to play.
Virginia had a chance to tie the game with under 90 seconds remaining, but a Cavalier free-position shot sailed high. The Cavaliers had one additional chance to equalize off an SU turnover with under a minute to play, but the Orange’s stingy defense knocked down a pass with under ten seconds left and corralled the ground ball to seal the win.
FROM HEAD COACH SONIA LAMONICA
“I thought our defense was really outstanding. Elyse in cage made some tremendous saves. [The defense] did everything they needed to do to have us in this game: incredible grit, fire, and how they continued to just adjust as we settled in the initial few minutes of the game.
“[Elyse] was on fire. She was seeing the ball so well. She had a great defensive unit in front of her. That's always what a goalie wants – to force certain shots. But she was just really dialed in. She read the ball well. She was moving fast, and she was ultimately playing with great confidence. All of those things just put her in a position to shine today, and she did that, so I'm really proud of her.”
VIRGINIA SCORING
GOALS: Jayden Piraino 2; Kate Galica 2; Livy LaVerghetta 1.
ASSISTS: Kate Galica 1; Madison Alaimo 2.
SYRACUSE SCORING
GOALS: Annie Parker 1; Ashlee Volpe 1; Molly Guzik 2; Caroline Trinkaus 1; Mileena Cotter 1.
ASSISTS: Annie Parker 1; Molly Guzik 1.
NOTES
- UVA held Syracuse to only six goals, the fewest by a UVA opponent in a game this year.
- Sophia Conti picked up a career-high four ground balls and matched her career best with two caused turnovers.
- Jayden Piraino tied her season high of two goals.
- Elyse Finnelle made ten saves at a 62.5% clip – her highest save percentage in a game this season.
- Madison Alaimo assisted on two UVA goals. She has recorded at least one assist in all 11 games played so far this season.
UP NEXT
The Cavaliers host James Madison (4-5) on Wednesday (March 21) at 2 p.m. at Klöckner Stadium in a game that will be broadcast on the ACC Network Extra.