When describing the type of season the Virginia women's lacrosse team has enjoyed so far this year, parallels to a racehorse outfitted with blinders exist -- quick, fast, focused and charging.
However, just as horses get distracted by miniscule diversions leading to loss of focus, so have the Cavaliers. It is these losses of focus that at times have thrown the Cavaliers out of rhythm, leading to defensive breakdowns and offensive stalemates.
No. 4 Virginia (12-3, 2-1) enters this weekend's ACC tournament coming off two impressive performances -- a 9-8 victory over then-No. 2 Loyola Md. Saturday and a 20-goal explosion Monday in a seven-goal win against Virginia Tech.
"We're excited," Virginia coach Julie Myers said. "This is huge momentum, and it's great for confidence."
Virginia's two-time ACC Player of the Week, Amy Appelt, has continued to dismantle defenses with regularity, securing her 15th straight hat trick of the season last week in a 20-13 win over Virginia Tech. She leads the country in points scored this season with 90. As a testament to her dominance, no on else has over 70 points. Appelt's consistency opens up opportunities for her teammates and forces the defense to focus on her ability to put the ball in the back of the net.
It is no coincidence then that various Virginia teammates have traded off playing the "hero" role for the Cavaliers. Against Loyola last Saturday, it was Tyler Leachman who hit the game winning 8-meter shot, but it could have been any one of Appelt's supporting cast members of Morgan Thalenberg, Caitlin Banks or Kim Connors. Including Leachman, the five have combined to tally 218 of the team's 313 points on the season.
In the first semifinal matchup at 1 p.m., No. 7 Duke (10-4, 3-0), the number one seed in the tournament, will face nearby rival and fourth seed, No. 15 UNC (8-6, 0-3). Despite Carolina's lack of victories against conference opponents, they came within an overtime goal of upsetting Duke and within two goals of beating Maryland in College Park. When they face off against the Blue Devils, they will be playing on their home field, a fact that could make the difference.
Unlike Duke, Maryland and Virginia, UNC does not have any quality wins deserving of recognition by the NCAA selection committee. Even with a top-20 ranking, Carolina will have a hard time receiving a bid to the NCAA tournament should they lose in the first round this weekend and to Dartmouth in their final regular season game. Win or lose, UNC is out to prove they belong in the NCAA field.
In the second semifinal game, second seeded Virginia will meet nemesis and third seed Maryland this afternoon at 3:30. No. 2 Maryland (12-2, 1-2) is also on a surge of momentum and comes in as the hottest team in the tourney, if not the nation, as they have won 10 straight games. Led by senior midfielder Kelly Coppedge, the Terrapins have not lost since March 9 when they were defeated at home by Virginia, 10-8.
When the two teams meet today at the University of North Carolina, the Terps will no doubt be looking for revenge. For Maryland though, the toughest part of the schedule comes after this weekend. Following the ACC tourney, the Terrapins return north to face defending national champs and both No.1 Princeton, as well as No. 5 Loyola Md. away from home.
However things turn out over the weekend, Duke, Maryland and Virginia are almost certain to receive NCAA tournament bids, while UNC will have to fight for one. As the women's lacrosse season enters the stretch run, it will be important for the Cavaliers to remain focused on their goal of a national championship and to sprint past the competition.
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