Virginia’s women’s lacrosse team has, so far, experienced a highly difficult schedule — the ACC itself currently features five teams who sit within the top 10 of the NCAA’s rankings. The Cavaliers are one of them, holding strong at No. 9 with a 8-4 record. However, three of those losses were against ACC opponents which has relegated Virginia to seventh place in the conference standings. In order to earn a top postseason seed, a triumphant push is needed.
After a grueling loss to No. 2 North Carolina in early March, the Cavaliers bounced back exceptionally, winning three games in a row. Most notably, Virginia rallied from behind to defeat No. 19 Duke March 15. The Blue Devils are currently third in the ACC rankings.
However, Virginia has not yet survived its most difficult portion of the regular season. Two remaining games in particular will be crucial leading up to the ACC Tournament and NCAA Tournament selection in early May — No. 16 Maryland and No. 1 Boston College.
Together, these games have the potential to either make or break Virginia’s positioning in the ACC Tournament and its hopes for a strong seeding in the NCAA Tournament.
Currently, the Cavaliers sit seventh in the ACC rankings. If these standings hold through the regular season, they would be slated to play the No. 2 seed — which is North Carolina, currently ranked No. 2 nationally — in the first round of the ACC Tournament.
However, if Virginia can perform to its full potential in two key matchups, the Cavaliers may be able to secure stronger positioning in the postseason.
April 9 against Maryland
In a matchup where both teams will be desperate for a ranked win, the Cavaliers will take on No. 16 Maryland in a neutral-site matchup in Towson, Md. The Terrapins sit comfortably at 7-3 and third place in the Big Ten, but their recent non-conference loss to No. 11 Pennsylvania may hurt their national ranking. Both Maryland and Virginia will be hungry to come back from recent one-goal losses, and the Terrapins bring a strong offense led by an Inside Lacrosse mid-season First Team All-American — junior midfielder Kori Edmondson.
Clearly, Virginia’s defense will be tested. Edmondson, who was also ranked as the No. 36 player in the nation in Inside Lacrosse's Preseason Top 50 Players list, leads Maryland’s offense with 29 goals this season. Edmondson has been a consistent force for the Terrapins over her three years with the program and is not afraid to drive to the opponents’ goal by herself.
The Cavaliers may also be looking to rebound defensively after a less outstanding performance in goal against Pittsburgh March 22 — between junior goalkeeper Mel Josephson and senior goalie Abby Jansen, Virginia had just four saves to the Panthers’ 10. If it can stop the Terrapins’ offense, Virginia’s defense would continue proving itself despite its offensive unit often receiving much of the attention.
A win over Maryland may not hold as much weight as the in-conference matchups Virginia has on the horizon, but it is still a hugely consequential match. The last time Virginia met the Terrapins on the field was in 2022, when the Cavaliers fell 13-17. Defeating Maryland will certainly not be easy, but if they are able to hold off Edmonson and her offense, Virginia has the chance to defeat the Terrapins for the first time since 2008 and get the ball rolling for the Cavaliers heading into the home stretch of their regular season.
April 12 at Boston College
In its final away game of the season, Virginia will face No. 1 Boston College, the reigning national champions. Frankly put, the Eagles have been a force to be reckoned with this season.
The Eagles are one of just two undefeated teams remaining in Division I lacrosse. At 13-0, they have been unstoppable and seem far from slowing down as May’s national championship game draws nearer.
Leading the NCAA in scoring offense and ranked fourth in goals allowed per game, Boston College has defeated their opponents — seven of whom are ranked within the top 25 — by large margins this season.
Boston College has threats across the field. Five of its players are currently on the Tewaaraton Award watch list — including senior attacker Rachel Clark, who averages over 4.5 goals per game.
However, one thing Virginia has going for itself is the fact that the Cavaliers were one of just three teams to defeat the Eagles last year. They are familiar with what it takes to stop Clark and the offense as well as how to break down junior goalkeeper Shea Dolce and her defense, who are fourth in the nation in points allowed per game.
The Cavaliers would need many things to work in their favor to leave Chestnut Hill, Mass. with a win given how much dominance Boston College has displayed this season. However, if Virginia can stick with a team that is surely a contender to win a national championship, it will prove the Cavaliers have the potential to perform well in both the ACC and NCAA tournaments, where they may be tested by high-caliber teams, including the Eagles.
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