Women’s Lacrosse: No. 5 JMU holds off No. 12 Cavaliers, 10-8

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Posted on Wednesday, Mar. 22, 2023, 9:59 pm

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo: UVA Athletics

The No. 12 Virginia women’s lacrosse team was leading heading into the fourth period, but No. 5 JMU outscored the Cavaliers 5-2 in the final 15 minutes to take the 10-8 win at Sentara Park on Wednesday in Harrisonburg.

It was a defensive battle for most of the game, with the score 6-5 after three quarters. UVA junior goalkeeper Ashley Vernon had seven saves in the first half and finished with 11. JMU’s goalkeeper had 12 saves.

Graduate student Ashlyn McGovern led Virginia (7-3) with four goals and junior Mackenzie Hoeg added two. Sophomore Kate Miller had a game-high three assists for the Cavaliers. Savannah Derey led JMU with three goals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Both teams were solid on defense early with the first goal of the game coming with 3:32 left in the first period. JMU scored the first goal to lead 1-0 after the first.
  • Back-to-back goals by McGovern pushed UVA into the lead and assisted a goal from Hoeg to make it a 3-1 lead with 3:24 to play in the first half.
  • The Dukes (9-1) scored just before the half as Virginia led 3-2.
  • Virginia took the lead again with sophomore Abby Manalang’s free position score after a goal by JMU to start the second half.
  • UVA took a 6-4 lead with goals by McGovern and Hoeg in the third quarter. JMU scored as UVA led 6-5 heading into the fourth.
  • McGovern scored her fourth of the game to put UVA ahead 7-5 just 51 seconds into the fourth. JMU scored the next two goals to tie it 7-7 with 10:55 to play.
  • Senior Jaime Biskup gave the Cavaliers an 8-7 lead with 10 minutes remaining, but JMU responded with three goals in the last six minutes.

NOTES

  • UVA trailed in shots (28-25) and draw controls (15-7) but had the edge in ground balls (11-8).
  • The Cavaliers committed just eight turnovers to 12 for the Dukes.
  • Miller had three assists for the second straight game.
  • It was McGovern’s eighth hat trick of the season.

UP NEXT

Virginia hosts No. 11 Notre Dame on Saturday at noon at Klöckner Stadium.