Sports
By Becky Piedel
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April 7, 2004
Offense is pivotal to success in women's lacrosse, but defense is what wins close games and prevents the mortification associated with a blowout.
Last season, the Virginia women's lacrosse team was led by an experienced defensive line, including two All-Americans -- redshirt senior Lauri Kenis and graduate student Tiffany Schummer.
For the Cavaliers this season, the long sticks, though lacking some of the veteran leadership of last year, have provided prowess in the backfield to support the solid effort of the attack in leading the team to its current record (9-3, 2-1 ACC).
The Cavalier defensive assault starts with sophomore midfielder Nikki Lieb, progresses with the trio of junior defenders Elizabeth Pinney, Ashley Dodson and Molly Urlock, and culminates with senior goalkeeper Andrea Pfeiffer in the cage.
Pfeiffer, in her third year as a starter for the Cavaliers, boasts a 52 percent save percentage with 109 saves and only 99 goals allowed for a slim 8.72 goals against average.