It almost seemed as if this senior class deserved better.
The Virginia women's lacrosse team (11-6) ended what they had hoped to be a slam-bang season with a dull thud May 10 when they lost to a James Madison squad, 11-8, they had trounced, 15-6, during the regular season.
No one felt that thud more than Virginia's five senior members - Jill Hansen, Mills Hook, Jamie Haas, Lacey Aumiller and Libby Hoyle - who played their last game as Cavaliers in the loss to the Dukes.
"I don't think anyone was ready to end the season," coach Julie Myers said. "It wasn't that we didn't go all out, it was just that we didn't capitalize in some key moments."
The Cavaliers took a 2-0 lead early in the NCAA first round game against JMU, thanks to goals by Hansen and sophomore Lauren Aumiller, but the Dukes stormed back with a 5-0 run before the half ended for a 6-3 lead that they would never relinquish.
However, Madison's real strength came not in scoring but from its goalie, senior Jen Corradini, who had 16 saves on the day to protect the Dukes' lead.
"We created the opportunities; we just didn't knock the big ones down," Myers said. "It was a post we hit or a save by their goalie. It was those pivotal moments."
Lauren Aumiller was the top scorer for the Cavaliers with four goals, and seniors Haas and Hansen both contributed to the scoring effort.
The first round loss marked the Cavaliers' sixth consecutive NCAA postseason bid and their 14th ever, which puts Virginia third for most NCAA tournament appearances.
Haas, Virginia's second-leading scorer with 35 goals and 18 assists, will leave her name in the Cavaliers' record books by scoring a goal in 27 consecutive games. She shares the mark with former players Dawn Wisniewski and Lindsey Sheehan.
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"Jamie Haas led the charge for us with her goals," Myers said.
Haas also served as one of the team captains, which put her at the front of a fairly young starting squad this season.
"There's a definite responsibility being a team leader," Haas said. "But the coaches and the team are really good about not placing all the weight on anyone's shoulders. We all take on responsibility."
Haas shared that captain's role with Jill Hansen, who was moved to midfield this season and typified the "solid" description Myers gave her with 10 goals and seven assists in her senior year.
"Mills [Hook] had a solid year too," Myers said. "Her shooting was real important for us."
When Virginia beat Virginia Tech, 19-4, on April 13, Hook scored two goals to become only the 10th player in Virginia history to score 100 career goals. With 27 goals and 20 assists this season, she helped anchor Virginia's attack.
Lacey Aumiller will leave a very visible legacy after as younger sister Lauren still has time to make her own mark on the record books. With 36 points this season (27 goals, 9 assists) she was a more than ample role model for Lauren.
"Lacey Aumiller ended with her best season this year for us," Myers said.
The younger Aumiller has a fast stick, and her four goals against JMU leave her with a team-high 49 goals on the season.
With Lauren Aumiller and ACC rookie of the year Caitlin Banks returning to the Virginia ranks, Myers is hopeful that next season will bring continued sucess.
"It's hard to look at next year right now," she said. "We have some great recruits and have very strong [players] returning."
Also returning is junior Molly Cangemi, who posted 24 goals and 23 assists this season before a back injury forced her out of NCAA tournament play.
As the seniors depart, the cycle of old and new faces seems just part of the game and another step on the search for a championship.
"Of course we're looking for a better year-end result" next year, Myers said. "Unless we've won it all we always want a better year-end result."
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