Women’s Lacrosse: No. 13 UVA upsets No. 4 Notre Dame, 12-10

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

A signature performance from Morgan Schwab, who broke the Virginia career assists record with four on the day, powered the No. 13 Virginia women’s lacrosse team to a 12-10 victory over No. 4 Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon at Arlotta Stadium in South Bend.

Schwab (2g, 4a) led the Cavaliers on the stat sheet with her total of eight points on the day. Mackenzie Hoeg scored four goals while Jenna Dinardo (3g) recorded her second consecutive hat trick. Katia Carnevale (2g) and Kate Miller (1g, 2a) each found the back of the net as well.

Virginia (7-1, 2-1 ACC) was stout in both the defensive end and on the ride as Schwab and Carnevale each caused a pair of turnovers. Mel Josephson recorded nine saves in goal including a crucial stop with less than a minute to play in the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Cavaliers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Morgan Schwab found Mackenzie Hoeg to open the scoring as Schwab tied the Virginia career assists record on the very first possession of the game.

In a back-and-forth first quarter the teams exchanged goals battling for control of the game, but with just 13 seconds remaining in the opening period, Madison Alaimo found Schwab with time and room who with a quick stick, buried her shot on the crease to give Virginia a 4-3 advantage.

The second period was as highly contested as the first. Notre Dame (5-1, 1-2) opened the quarter with a two-goal run that was quickly answered by the Cavaliers as Hoeg and Schwab each found the back of the net to pull things level. After an answer from Notre Dame, it was Hoeg who struck for the third time off a feed from Schwab who registered her 130th-career assist to break the Virginia all-time record. The Cavaliers would enter the halftime break with a 7-6 advantage.

Sticking with their season trend, Virginia won the third quarter beginning with a 4-1 scoring run featuring back-to-back goals from freshman Jenna Dinardo to give UVA an 11-7 lead, its largest of the game. Notre Dame would score the final goal of the period to cut Virginia’s advantage to three at the start of the fourth quarter.

In the game’s final period, Virginia held the Irish to just two goals. Hoeg scored her fourth goal of the day with just over seven minutes remaining to give the Cavaliers a two-goal cushion. The Cavalier defense put the clamps on in the final minutes forcing a pair of turnovers before Mel Josephson stepped up in the clutch to turn away the final Irish shot of the game.

FROM THE LOCKER ROOM

Head Coach Sonia LaMonica on the team’s performance:
“I am so proud of this group. It was a great, great battle between two great teams and it really came down to the wire. I really love the resolve of our group as we got tested when Notre Dame made a good hard push late in the game to close the gap. Defensively we stepped up and we were able to shut that door. It was an outstanding performance from this group and I just really believe that this group is getting better with each game.

Morgan Schwab on breaking the Virginia career assist record:
“I am really grateful. I have amazing teammates that just put themselves in the best position to keep scoring. My coaches keep pushing me and I am so excited.” 

WITH THE WIN…

• Virginia moves to 7-1 on the season and 4-0 away from Klöckner Stadium
• UVA moves to 2-1 in ACC play
• The Cavaliers move to 3-1 against ranked opposition
• UVA earns its first win over an opponent ranked in the top-five since 2018 (3/4/18, vs. No. 5 Syracuse)
• Virginia wins at Notre Dame for the first time since 2018

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• With four assists today Morgan Schwab improves her career tally to 132 eclipsing the Virginia single-season assist record (129) set by Lindsay Sheehan in 1986.
• Carnevale extends her point streak to 17 games
• Nicole Cruthirds led the Cavaliers with three ground balls on the day
• Kate Galica led the Cavaliers in draw controls with five on the day.
• After recording her first career hat trick against Richmond (March 6), Jenna Dinardo found the back of the net three times for the second straight game
• In her last two ACC games, Mel Josephson has combined for 20 saves (at Clemson, at Notre Dame)
• The Cavaliers are now 2-0 in road ACC games

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers return to Klöckner Stadium next Saturday for another ACC contest against Pitt. First draw in Charlottesville is set for noon.