LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The No. 19 Virginia women’s lacrosse team (6-7, 4-3 ACC) overcame a three-goal fourth-quarter deficit to win 12-10 at Louisville (6-6, 2-5 ACC) on Saturday (March 28) at UofL Lacrosse Stadium in Louisville, Ky.
Virginia trailed 10-7 at the end of the third quarter. Sophomore attacker Fiona Allen scored three goals in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter to tie the game 10-10. Allen then gave UVA its first lead of the game with 5:53 remaining. Sophomore attacker Jayden Piraino added an insurance goal with 2:12 remaining for the final 12-10 score.
Allen, who came into the game with eight goals on the season, scored a career-best five goals on six shots. Junior midfielder Kate Galica scored four goals, all in the first half.
The Cavaliers and Cardinals opened the game by trading goals before the Cardinals went on a 3-0 run to build up a 6-3 advantage. After again trading goals, Louisville was poised to go into the half with an 8-5 edge, but Galica scored with less than a full second remaining on the game clock to narrow the gap to two. Louisville outscored the Cavaliers 3-2 in the third to head to the fourth with its 10-7 lead.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Cavaliers.
FROM HEAD COACH SONIA LAMONICA
“Building our resiliency has been a big focus coming into this game. Louisville is a tough team, and we demonstrated better response to setbacks today, especially when it mattered most. Fiona [Allen] was a huge spark for our offense today, and the group allowed her strengths shine, which was awesome to see.”
VIRGINIA SCORING
GOALS: Fiona Allen 5, Kate Galica 4, Jayden Piraino 1, Jenna DiNardo 1, Gabby LaVerghetta 1
ASSISTS: Jayden Piraino 1
LOUISVILLE SCORING
GOALS: Ella Berg 3; Reese Whiteman 2; Charlotte Jackson 2; Maggie McMahon 2, Rian Adkins 1
ASSISTS: Rian Adkins 1; Reese Whiteman 1; Charlotte Jackson 1; Grayce Kitchen 1; Maggie Mcmahon 1
NOTES
- Draws were even at 9-9 heading into the fourth quarter. Virginia won all five draws in that final period
- Grad student goalkeeper Elyse Finnelle made seven saves. Louisville’s Haley Richards made 11 saves
- Louisville pulled its goalie and played with an empty net for the final 1:51 of the game
- Only one of Virginia’s goals was assisted
- Fiona Allen’s five goals match the season high by a UVA player in a game, as Kate Galica also scored five in the win against Princeton
- Allen’s previous career high was a three-goal game against Florida State
- Virginia improves to 12-0 all-time against the Cardinals
UP NEXT
- The Cavaliers return home to host No. 1 North Carolina on Friday, April 3, at 4 p.m. The game will be televised on the ACC Network