Women’s Lacrosse: Ninth-ranked Hoos roll past Tech in regular-season finale, 19-9

By Colin Moore
JerryRatcliffe.com correspondent

The No. 9 Virginia women’s lacrosse team posted a convincing, 19-9 victory over visiting Virginia Tech on a historic Wednesday night at Klöckner Stadium.

Second-year midfielder Kate Galica set both the UVA single-season and single-game draw control records, winning her 150th late into the third quarter (she finished the contest with 155). She managed to control 17 draws on her route to a historic season.

Virginia (11-5, 5-4 ACC) conceded the first two goals in Wednesday’s matchup in the first three minutes. The Cavaliers went on to score the next six goals, including three for Addi Foster. Tech (9-8, 3-6) managed to get one back before the quarter ended with the Hoos leading, 6-3.

The Cavaliers controlled the second quarter as well, as they scored the first five goals with two stunners. The first came from a Corey White’s laser on a free-position shot, as she placed it perfectly in the top-left corner. The other highlight was a behind-the-back, off-balance goal from Gabby LaVerghetta. LaVerghetta made a great cut towards the center of the crease as teammate Madison Alaimo placed a perfect pass for the quick-reaction shot. The Hokies scored one to end the first half with a score of 11-4.

UVA came out of the half strong, earning the first two goals before allowing one and scoring another four. Galica scored a tremendous goal, beating not two, but three defenders before bouncing her shot between the legs of Hokies goalkeeper Aaliyah Jones.

Down 17-6 to begin the fourth, Virginia Tech scored early trying to build any sort of momentum, but the Cavaliers responded and earned the convincing victory to win the cross-state rivalry game.

The Cavaliers had numerous players with impressive performances, but Galica took home the MVP, etching her name into Virginia history, winning over 150 draw controls in a single season. She also tallied three goals. Foster also contributed highly with four goals on four shot attempts, while Jenna Dinardo scored a hat trick of her own.

In net, Mel Josephson earned the start and stopped six Hokie shot attempts while allowing five goals. Abby Jansen relieved Josephson for the last 17 minutes, making a pair of saves and allowing four goals.

ADDITIONAL NOTES
Courtesy UVA Media Relations

• Jenna DiNardo had four points with three goals and an assist
• Livy LaVerghetta, Gabby LaVerghetta and Payton Sfreddo each scored two goals
• Katie Campel, Corey White and Finley Barger scored a goal apiece
• Virginia scored its 19 goals on 29 shots. Virginia Tech scored nine goals on 25 shots
• Virginia held a 21-10 edge in draw controls, with Galica winning 17 of UVA’s 21 draws
• The previous single-game record of 15 draws was set Aubrey Williams in 2022 and twice tied, once by Williams in 2023 and once by Galica earlier this season at Cal
• Virginia’s goalkeeper combined for eight saves (Mel Josephson 6, Abby Jansen 2)
• Virginia Tech’s Aaliyah Jones made five saves

FROM HEAD COACH SONIA LaMONICA

“I’m so proud. So proud. I thought it was such a total effort to bounce back off of the hard road loss, and to come up the fire that this group came out with tonight was just amazing and outstanding all over the field, end to end. We just didn’t allow Tech to have an inch. So, it’s a really great way to finish off the regular season today.

“[After going down 2-0] our team knew that they needed to respond. And they did. That was kind of getting rhythm on the draws and finding our rhythm on the offensive end. And I think we did a really good job.”

ABOUT THE SMITHFIELD COMMONWEALTH CLASH

• Today’s game is part of the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash. Originally called the Commonwealth Challenge (2005-2007), this has been a part of the UVA-Virginia Tech rivalry since 2014. It is an all-sports, points-based program with the Commonwealth Clash trophy presented to the winning school each year for its dominance in head-to-head competitions.
• The winner of today’s game earned one point in the Clash for their school
• The Cavaliers now lead the Clash 11-6

UP NEXT

The seventh-seeded Cavaliers will travel to American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte on Wednesday to battle No. 2 seed Boston College at 5 p.m. in the Quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament (see final standings and full bracket below).

Thursday’s Results

Notre Dame 17, Louisville 6
Clemson 14, Pitt 6
North Carolina 18, Duke 6
Boston College 17, Syracuse 2
Stanford 19, California 4