cville-lax.com

From Media Releases

The Virginia women’s lacrosse team, ranked five in all the major polls, will travel to Old Dominion on Wednesday, April 4, to face the Lady Monarchs in a continuation of an in-state rivalry that has been played continuously since 1980. The Cavaliers (9-2) own a 30-0 advantage in the series that started in the consolation final of the Virginia Women’s Lacrosse Association championships that season.

The `Hoos rank eighth in the nation in scoring defense, led by co-captain Jessy Morgan and fellow US team member Jen Holden. Virginia is allowing opponents only 22 shots per game, helping keeper Kendall McBrearty rank eighth nationally in goals-against average. First-year Kaitlin Duff leads the Cavaliers in caused turnovers with 14 in her rookie campaign; she also leads Virginia in ground balls with 27. Holden ranks right behind her with 20 on the season.

Duff is joined in the midfield by co-captain Jess Wasilewski and US team member Megan O’Malley and classmate Brittany Kalkstein. Kalkstein and Duff rank 1-2 at Virginia in draw controls; the team ranks 27th nationally with 12.64 dc per game. The Cavaliers also rank 10th nationally in scoring margin at +5.00 gpg.

Virginia’s explosive offense has resulted in 31 goals in the last two games. The Cavaliers are led by fourth-year Kate Breslin, who has 33 goals and 15 assists on the season. She ranks second in the ACC and 19th nationally in scoring. She is joined on the front line by National Rookie of the Year Blair Weymouth and fellow second year Ashley McCulloch, who has a career-high 17 assists in 2007. McCulloch ranks 28th nationally in assists per game.

The Cavaliers have raced out to one of the nation’s best records (9-2) against the fourth-toughest schedule in the nation, according to lacrossedraw.com. Opening draw against the Lady Monarchs is set for 3:00 in Norfolk.