Despite upsetting No. 4 Loyola Wednesday night, the Virginia women's lacrosse team does not have much time to dwell on its victory.
With the NCAA tournament less than two weeks away, the Cavaliers have one more regular season game to play before it's on to the postseason.
In their last home contest of the year Sunday afternoon, the No. 8 Cavaliers will face Vanderbilt at Klockner Stadium.
If all goes according to the game plan for Virginia, the Cavaliers' seniors, including attackers Mills Hook and Jamie Haas, will finish their college careers on a victorious note.
"Hopefully Vanderbilt won't have all that much possession time," Virginia coach Julie Myers said. "If we can win some draws and show control on the field, we should be all right."
Vanderbilt rose to national prominence last year, ending its season ranked No. 13. But seven starters graduated from the 2000 team and coach Cathy Swezey was forced to start nine freshmen. The Commodores have struggled in 2001 and are 4-10.
"They play a tough schedule" in the Southeastern Conference, Myers said.
"We're young," Swezey said. "Hands down, that's what it is."
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Its youth, however, has not stopped Vanderbilt from having a few freshman standouts of its own. Freshman attacker Jess Roguski has 22 goals and six assists on the season.
"Jess has been a major impact player for us this year," Swezey said. "Most importantly, not once has she played like a freshman. She's just a great Vanderbilt lacrosse player."
Although Caitlin Banks, Virginia's top newcomer and the Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year, may not have contact with Roguski, it will be interesting to see how the two fare against opposing defenses.
Roguski is coming off a four-goal performance in her team's 17-10 victory over Ohio on Sunday.
The Commodores will have to contain Virginia sophomore Lauren Aumiller, who has stepped up as an offensive threat this season and was named to the All-ACC team.
"We know they have dangerous kids on their team," Swezey said. "Look at Lauren Aumiller. She's such a great impact player for them."
The Commodores' defensive strategy depends much on the play of Cavaliers such as All-ACC defender Lauri Kenis, who leads Virginia in caused turnovers and helped win the match Wednesday night for the Cavaliers by causing a turnover that resulted in the tie-breaking goal with 30 seconds left in the game.
Swezey pointed out the strength on her own defensive side, notably from junior Megan Lewis, who boasts 32 caused turnovers this season.
"I think Megan is one of the best defenders in the nation," Swezey said. "She doesn't get recognized for that enough."
Virginia is careful not to take even Vanderbilt too lightly.
"They've had a tough season but anything can happen," Myers said.
Swezey agrees: "My general reaction [to playing Virginia] is that on any given day anything can happen. "I think that's just the direction of Division I women's lacrosse"
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