ACC Showdown: Duke Hosts UVA Saturday
from press release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The No. 5 Virginia women's lacrosse
team will face a quick turnaround and head to Durham, N.C., for a
top-five showdown with conference-foe No. 3 Duke on Saturday.
Opening draw is slated for 1 p.m. in Koskinen Stadium. Live
statistics will be available at VirginiaSports.com.
The Cavaliers (6-3) will look to rebound from a 10-9 loss to No. 20
James Madison Wednesday night. The Dukes used three-unanswered
goals to close out the game, including a game-winning score with 11
seconds remaining, to defeat the Cavaliers. Senior All-American
Brittany Kalkstein led Virginia in the contest with three goals and
an assist.
For the season, senior All-American Kaitlin Duff leads a balanced
attack with 19 goals and 11 assists, while five Cavaliers have
contributed 15 goals each - redshirt sophomore Ainsley Baker,
sophomores Charlie Finnigan, Julie Gardner and Josie Owen, in
addition to Kalkstein. Senior Caity Whiteley has added 13 for
Virginia's offense.
Defensively, Kalkstein has a team-high 44 draw controls, 19 ground
balls and 17 caused turnovers. In goal, redshirt junior Lauren
Benner has stopped 49.5 percent of shots faced, while allowing 8.59
goals per game.
Duke has only lost one contest this season, a 17-4 setback against
No. 2 Maryland on Feb. 27. Since then, the Blue Devils have won
five-straight contests and bring an overall record of 9-1 into
Saturday's game. Sarah Bullard leads Duke with 29 goals, while
Christie Kaestner has a team-high 40 points on 21 goals and 19
assists. Mollie Mackler leads the team with 24 ground balls, while
Kat Thomas has won 38 draw controls. Bullard leads the team with 22
caused turnovers.
In goal for the Blue Devils, Mackler has compiled a 6-1 record,
stopping 48.8 percent of shots faced, while allowing 9.00 goals per
game.
In the all-time series between the two programs, the Cavaliers hold
the advantage at 17-8. The two have faced at least twice every year
since 2001 and every year since 1996.
During regular season meetings, the Cavaliers hold the slight
advantage, at 8-6. Throughout 11 of those 14 contests, the road
team has come away with the win, including the last five-straight
contests and nine of the last 10.
Up next, the Cavaliers will have another midweek game against an
in-state opponent, as Old Dominion heads to Charlottesville for a 7
p.m. game Wednesday night.
