DURHAM, N.C. - Going into the ACC tournament this weekend, the Virginia women's lacrosse team had not lost since March 17. Friday's game proved to be an unfamiliar circumstance, as the No. 3 Cavaliers (11-3, 3-1 ACC) found themselves trailing throughout most of the game in their 15-12 first-round loss to Maryland (8-6, 1-3 ACC).
"I thought it was a very competitive game, from start to finish," Virginia coach Julie Myers said. "Maryland did a terrific job, getting the ball, controlling the pace of the game."
When these two teams last met, Virginia overcame a Terrapin comeback to win 17-16, but Maryland has once again proved that its play always picks up in the postseason.
For the second straight game, Virginia fell behind by two goals early. Maryland attacker Meredith Egan got the Terrapins on the board on an assist from midfielder Acacia Walker in the first minute of the game, and midfielder Kelly Coppedge put one in for the Terps just two minutes later.
The Cavaliers scored two quick goals by countering the attack, one from sophomore attacker Caitlin Banks and one from freshman attacker Cary Chasney. Maryland took the lead again on its next goal, but Cavalier senior midfielder Molly Cangemi brought the score to 3-3 with just under 21 minutes to play in the half.
Unfortunately, the ball would not get by Maryland goalie Alexis Venechanos for the remainder of the half, setting up the Terrapins to commence their 5-0 scoring run.
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"I really think it was a test of survival," Maryland coach Cindy Timchal said, reacting to how her team adjusted to the hot weather. "We didn't intend to slow things down, but we wanted everybody to be on the same page offensively."
The Cavaliers struggled to maintain their normal running game, a factor that was triggered by the lapses on defense.
"We kind of fell into their rhythm," Myers said. "Instead of pressing back early on, we kind of fell back and I think that set the tone for the game."
In addition to just scoring three first-half goals, allowing eight first-half goals was unusual for the Cavaliers, especially since most of the shots allowed were a result of the inability of Virginia defenders to drop back and call for the ball from sophomore goalkeeper Andrea Pfeiffer.
Banks came up with a goal in the first minute of the half to reduce the deficit to four, and Chasney connected on another shot less than two minutes later. The scoring break was even shorter when Cangemi brought the deficit to two, and it looked as if the Cavaliers were begining to change the momentum and prepare for takeover.
Once again, however, Maryland pressured Virginia's defense and caused turnovers to boost its offense, scoring three goals of its own within the next five minutes.
Virginia made two goals and reduced the deficit to three with just over 14 minutes to play. After another Terrapin goal, junior midfielder Lauren Aumiller, the Cavaliers' leading scorer for the season, finally connected just before the six-minute mark.
Virginia freshman attacker Amy Appelt, another scoring sensation, did the same two minutes later, but Terrapin midfielder Courtney Hobbs broke around Virginia defender Courtney Young to extend the Maryland lead to 15-11. Time was running out, however, and the game just wasn't moving quickly enough for Virginia to fathom a comeback.
"It almost looks lazy at times because our kids just aren't working hard enough to get free," Myers said.
While Friday was a Maryland day, do not expect Virginia to let its season plummet simply based on this first-round upset. The Terrapins needed the win to get into the NCAA Tournament and were very hungry, but a more focused, more aggressive Virginia team may get its vengeance at Maryland and other such opponents come national tourney time.
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