FAIRFAX, Va. -- The sun was setting behind George Mason Stadium yesterday afternoon as the No. 4 Virginia women's lacrosse team handed the Patriots (5-7) their seventh loss of the season, 15-8. Sophomore attacker Cary Chasney led the Cavaliers with six goals on the evening en route to Virginia's 11th win.
The Cavaliers (11-3) came out fast and determined in the first 30 minutes of play, jumping out to a 10-3 lead at halftime.
Chasney scored five of her six goals in the first half, with sophomore attacker Amy Appelt and freshman attacker Tyler Leachman also contributing to the Cavaliers' 10 first-half goals.
"Yesterday I went out before and after practice and just practiced my shots, getting feeds," Chasney said. "I guess it paid off."
Virginia coach Julie Myers was satisfied with her team's performance on the road.
"We played great in the first half, coming up 10-3," Myers said. "We were in the process of rotating a million people in, so it's hard to keep things consistent."
Virginia out-shot George Mason 27-5 in the first half, with Patriot sophomore keeper Meg Dentler playing incredible in net for George Mason. Dentler recorded 12 saves in the first half alone and finished with 18 saves on the night.
"She stopped almost everything we threw at her low," Chasney said. "She made us work a lot harder for our shots."
The final 30 minutes of play proved to be more of a challenge for Virginia as George Mason came back, closing the gap to as few as five goals in the second half. Dentler helped keep the Patriots in the game, but the Cavalier attack was too potent for her to stop every shot she faced.
"I think we just let up in the second half," senior tri-captain Lauren Aumiller said. "We pretty much had them in the first half."
George Mason opened the second half scoring with two quick goals, to make it a 10-5 game -- only eight minutes into the stanza. Aumiller would put Virginia up 11-5, hoping to put an end to the Patriot comeback, but George Mason kept fighting.
At one point in the second half, junior Patriot midfielder Lisa Hagan took possession of the ball behind the Cavalier net. Hagan then sprinted around the right side of the net, jumping into the air right in front of Virginia junior keeper Andrea Pfeiffer. Hagan leaped and put a strong shot just above Pfeiffer to bring George Mason back within five at 11-6.
The Cavaliers, however, would add four more goals and hold on to win, 15-8, keeping George Mason under .500 for the year.
Virginia is slated to have a rematch against the Duke Blue Devils Friday at 3:30 p.m. in the ACC tournament opener at Kl?kner Stadium. The two ACC rivals last faced each other April 6, when the Blue Devils handed Virginia a 12-7 defeat.
Pfeiffer has wanted a rematch against the Blue Devils ever since.
"I can't wait," Pfeiffer said. "I can't wait."
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