In the midst of a three-game winning streak, the Virginia women's lacrosse team is ready to take on in-state rival James Madison tonight at 7 p.m.
The Cavaliers (8-2) have proved a strong force in the NCAA as reflected in their fourth-ranked standing in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association poll and standing atop the ACC.
Although Virginia will enter tomorrow night's game with a definite advantage, senior defender Tiffany Schummer is aware of JMU's strengths and abilities on the playing field.
"It's of course a very big in-state rivalry," Schummer said. "No matter how hard they play against other teams, they seem to play twice as hard against us. They're young, they're very fast and always a tough team."
Schummer has not forgotten the tendency of the Dukes (6-5) to upset a favored Cavalier team and eliminate Virginia's hopes of NCAA tournament contention.
"They have a very solid team consistently every year," Schummer said. "They've knocked us out of the NCAA tournament the past two years."
In order to prevent a possible James Madison win, Virginia will need to secure an early lead with a quick and aggressive attack and maintain a solid line of defense throughout the matchup. By taking advantage of any JMU turnovers and retaining possession of the ball, the Cavaliers will improve their chances of avoiding an upset and further strengthen their national and conference standings.
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Junior midfielder Lauren Aumiller believes Virginia will need to adapt certain aspects of their game to compensate for the Dukes' strategies on the field.
"We need to get our fast-break working," Aumiller said. "JMU tends to crowd around the middle and run, and we need to work around that."
Aside from speed, resilience and a die-hard desire to win, James Madison will rely heavily on its midfield to support its offense and provide a first line of defense against the Cavaliers' attack. With seven returning starters, the Dukes will be able to combine the experience of veteran players with the additional skill and vigor of the newcomers. Key returnees that will threaten Virginia's level of play include senior tri-captain McNevin Molloy on the attack and junior Lisa Staedt, senior Kristen Dinisio - both team tri-captains -and sophomores Gail Decker and Jessica Beard in the midfield.
On defense, the Cavaliers will combat junior Rachel Sappington and sophomore Erin Chantler as they attempt to crush any Virginia efforts to put points on the board. Supporting the defense in the cage will be either sophomore Brianna Constantino or junior Lisa Sager, both returning starters who have seen playing time this season.
Tomorrow night's game between Virginia and James Madison will prove a fierce competition that is indicative of the long-standing rivalry between the two teams. Neither the Cavaliers nor the Dukes will be willing to relinquish a win to the other as both teams fight to the finish.
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