Following Saturday's loss to Duke, the No 4. Virginia women's lacrosse knew it would need to learn from the experience. Losing to the Blue Devils 16-12 at home was not the way the Cavaliers (8-2) wanted to play in a match-up of two top-five teams. But the loss did serve Virginia well by bringing some issues out into the open.
"We need to make sure that our intensity is at a high level everyday we are together, not just on a game day," Virginia coach Julie Myers said after the loss. "We need to restructure practice a little bit and really make kids compete a little harder in practice."
At the time, the Cavaliers had six games remaining -- including three in a row on the road -- before the ACC tournament. The first challenge would be a trip south to Norfolk to face Old Dominion. Whatever Myers changed in practice seemed to work for her team, as the Cavaliers rolled to a 20-1 victory over the Lady Monarchs.
During that game, senior Amy Appelt, reigning NCAA Player of the Year, became the all-time leading scorer for Virginia when she scored her 321st career point with just over five minutes left in the first half. Appelt assisted fellow senior Cary Chasey on her goal that occurred 24:21 into the game. The assist was Appelt's second of the game. She finished the night with two goals and three assists for a total of 225 goals and 99 assists in her career. Those totals put her at 15th and 23rd all time, respectively, while her 324 points rank eighth all time.
The Cavaliers got four goals from Kate Breslin and two hat tricks from Chasney and Megan Havrilla en route to the 19-goal victory. The offensive explosion is not a new thing for Virginia this season. Appelt and Tyler Leachman are second and third in points per game in the ACC. The Cavaliers also have shown the ability to score often, such as when they scored three goals in one minute against Duke.
Looming on the horizon for Virginia is Sunday's road game against No. 19 Temple (4-3). Defense likely will be a key to the game. Both starting goalkeepers are allowing less than 10 goals per game. Temple goalie Megan McLouth has 61 saves on the year while allowing 9.91 goals per game. Cavalier goalie Ginger Miles has been amazing in her first season starting for Virginia. She has 84 saves on the season, saving 58 percent of the shots she has faced.
Part of Miles' success is the strong defense that is playing in front of her. The Cavaliers have picked up 203 ground balls on the season and forced 145 turnovers. The only weak moment for Virginia's defense was during the Duke game when the Blue Devils scored eight goals in a row. Despite that run, however, having so much strength in the defense is helping the Virginia players stay confident in the race for an ACC title.
"No one is undefeated in the ACC," Elizabeth Pinney said. "[Against Duke] was one of our worst halves, but I'm not worried. It's a learning experience, we took some hits, but we're going to work on what didn't go right."
Pinney isn't alone in not panicking, as Myers says her team is relaxed.
"We're a role-with-it type of team," Myers said. "Maybe a little too relaxed at times, but there are times when going into a game relaxed can help. We don't try to control the team atmosphere or their personalities."
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