Syracuse University
#7 Virginia
Webster leads Orange Against Cavaliers
2/27/2011 3:34:22 PM | Women's Lacrosse
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Freshman Katie Webster recorded a season-high eight points to lead No. 5/9 Syracuse in a 21-11 setback against No. 7/12 Virginia in the Carrier Dome on Sunday, Feb. 27. The Orange goes to 1-2 on the season, while the Cavaliers improve to 2-1.
Webster led the Orange with six goals to go along with two assists. Webster's eight points are the most for a Syracuse freshman since current Orange sophomore Michelle Tumolo recorded seven points in the 2010 season opener against Colgate.
Virginia netted the first goal of the game at the 29:26 mark before junior Sarah Holden scored on an assist from Webster to even the score with 28:01 remaining. Charlie Finnigan broke the tie with an unassisted goal with 26:44 on the clock, sparking the Cavaliers on a 3-0 scoring run that gave UVa the lead for good. Webster converted a free position attempt to cut Virginia's lead to 4-2, but the Cavaliers responded with three unanswered goals to go up 9-3 with 6:22 remaining. Senior Tee Ladouceur and Webster found the back of the net in the final 5:17 of the first half to cut Virginia's lead to 10-5 at halftime.
Holden scored the first goal of the second to bring the Orange to within four at 10-6 at the 27:29 mark. That was as close as Syracuse could get. Virginia's Julie Gardner recorded her third goal of the game, starting a 5-0 Virginia scoring run that gave the Cavaliers a 15-6 lead with 19:14 remaining. Freshman Amy Cross and Webster netted back-to-back goals to cut the lead to 16-8, before Josie Owen posted her first goal of the game to put the Cavaliers back up by nine. Webster scored two more goals to bring the Orange to within seven at the 12:52 mark, but Virginia recorded four consecutive goals to push its lead to 11 with 4:10 remaining. Webster tallied the final goal of the game with 2:03 on the clock for the final score.
“It was a tough game,” said Syracuse head coach Gary Gait. “We made mistakes, little things and big things. We just didn't come together as a team and get the job done. Obviously, it is a tough loss to a good Virginia team. We have a couple of weeks to go back and look at ourselves, work a little harder. The nice thing about our schedule is that we have the opportunity to play some great teams in the next road trip.”
Holden and Ladouceur finished with two goals apiece, while Tumolo added two assists. Finnigan led Virginia with five goals and three assists.
Virginia outshot Syracuse, 36-24, and picked up nine ground balls to six for the Orange. The Cavaliers recorded 19 draw controls to 14 for Syracuse. Senior Liz Hogan and freshman Alyssa Costantino combined for 10 saves for Syracuse, while Virginia's Kim Kolarik made five saves.
Syracuse will have nearly two weeks off before facing No. 1 Maryland on Saturday, March 12 in College Park, Md.
