Virginia women’s lacrosse opens season 3-0

The No. 8 Virginia women’s lacrosse team has gotten off to a hot start in 2020, picking up three straight wins to open the season. Things got off to a quick start with a dramatic come-from-behind win against No. 15 Navy, and then the Hoos got victories over Stanford and Cal over one sunny weekend in California.

The Cavaliers are averaging 14 goals per game, and Sammy Mueller leads the team with 11 points on 10 goals and an assist. Ashlyn McGovern has 10 goals through three games, and Courtlynne Caskin has a team-best 11 draw controls. In the cage, Charlie Campbell is averaging 8.7 saves per game with a save percentage of 46%.

Against Navy, Virginia fell behind 6-4 at the half and trailed 13-11 with just over four minutes left on the clock. Bowen’s third goal of the game brought the Hoos within one, and McGovern’s fourth of the game knotted things at 13 with :34 remaining on an absolute rip from the free position shot. McGovern rounded out the scoring with the golden goal in OT, just 46 seconds into the extra period.

McGovern earned ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week for her five goal performance against the Midshipmen.

After the opener against Navy, the Cavaliers went on a two-game west coast extravaganza. Stanford was up first, and once again Virginia trailed at the half as the Cardinal got out to a 9-5 lead thanks to five straight goals to end the first half. The Cavaliers responded with a five-gaol run to open the second half, taking a 10-9 lead with 20 minutes to play. Stanford rattled off two goals to re-take the lead, but Virginia scored the final two goals of the contest to pick up the 12-11 win.

The third game of the season was a little more relaxing for the Cavaliers as they used a seven-goal run spanning half time to turn a two-goal lead into a 13-9 runaway. McGovern had four goals in the 17-7 win, and Mueller added three.

Mueller combined for nine goals and 12 ground balls on the California trip, earning her ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week.

Next up, the Hoos face Princeton on the road at 1pm on Saturday. The Tigers are 1-0 on the season after beating Temple, 16-14, in their opening game. You can catch the action on ESPN+. Virginia’s first home game is Wednesday, February 26, as the Hoos host Richmond at 5pm.