• Afternoon Games

Connecticut was somewhat surprised to find out that it had earned an at-large bid to the NCAA women’s lacrosse tournament after losing in the Big East championship game last weekend. For most of the evening against Virginia, the Huskies proved that it very much belonged. UConn trailed just 11-10 into the second half, but the Cavaliers ultimately pulled away for a 19-13 victory.

UConn had leads of 3-2 and 4-3 in the first half and got back within 11-10 on Stephanie Palmucci’s goal with 24:20 left in the game, but then the Cavaliers turned it on. Seven different Virginia players scored goals during a seven-goal run, including this highlight-reel goal from Morgan Schwab.

Morgan Schwab with the fancy footwork and the dunk. @UVAWomensLax turns it on in the second half to beat UConn 19-13.

Cavs will meet Notre Dame on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/xyj0TGW7AB

— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 14, 2021

Annie Dyson (4g, 1a) and Schwab (2g, 3a) each had five-point evenings for the Cavaliers (9-8) while Ashlyn McGovern and Taylor Regan each had hat tricks.

Grace Coon led Connecticut (12-7) with four goals and an assist and Sydney Watson added three goals and an assist. UConn goalie Landyn White made 13 saves.

Virginia advances to play a familiar foe, ACC rival Notre Dame, in the second round on Sunday.

Radochonski, Behrins Help Denver Hand Stanford First Loss

Eliza Radochonski and Bea Behrins each scored five goals as Denver handed Stanford its first loss of the season, posting a 15-13 victory on Friday evening at Northwestern in the opening round of the NCAA women’s lacrosse tournament.

Stanford never led, but the game was tied seven times, the last coming after Stanford’s Ali Baiocco scored with 9:23 remaining to knot the score at 12-12.

Radochonski then took over, scoring back-to-back goals to put Denver in front 14-12.

Back-to-back goals by Eliza Radochonski breaks a 12-12 tie and @DU_WLAX hangs on to beat Stanford 15-13 in the opening round of the NCAA women’s lacrosse tourney. pic.twitter.com/f92ULnRBlJ

— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 15, 2021

Baiocco scored again for Stanford with 2:07 remaining to get the Cardinal back within one, but Denver’s Mackenzie Wallevand sealed the game on a goal with 1:05 to play.

Katherine Gjertsen led Stanford with four goals. The Cardinal finish the season 11-1.

The Pioneers are now 16-1, having won 16 straight games after opening the season with a loss to Colorado. They’ll face another undefeated team on Sunday — No. 2 Northwestern.

JMU’s Defense Stymies Johns Hopkins

James Madison’s stingy zone defense and solid work from star goaltender Molly Dougherty led the Dukes to a 9-6 victory over Johns Hopkins in the opening round of the NCAA women’s lacrosse tournament in a neutral site game at the University of North Carolina.

Johns Hopkins (8-7) managed just five shots in the first half as JMU jumped out to a 6-2 halftime lead. Dougherty then made six of her seven saves in the second half to keep the Blue Jays at bay.

Speedy midfielder Charlotte Haggerty paced the JMU offense with four goals and Brittany Bill scored twice. Both of Bill’s goals came early in the game to help stake the Dukes to a 3-0 lead out of the gates. Aurora Cordingley led Hopkins with two goals and two assists and Kathleen Garvey made seven saves.

Since a 13-7 loss to Hofstra on April 10 at USA Lacrosse headquarters, James Madison has ripped off seven straight wins to improve to 12-4 for the season. The Dukes have held their opponents to single digits in four of those victories.

James Madison will play at No. 1 North Carolina on Sunday at noon on ESPN3. The Dukes memorably beat the Tar Heels twice during their national championship season in 2018.

Jacksonville Closes Strong to Beat Vanderbilt

It took a little while for the nation’s No. 9 scoring offense to get going, but Jacksonville eventually found its rhythm and pulled away for a 20-12 victory over Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt held Jacksonville to just two goals through the first 22 minutes of the game, taking a 5-2 lead, but the Dolphins scored the last six goals of the first half and then closed the game on a 6-1 run over the final 7:20 of the contest.

Sarah Elms had a season-high seven goals for Jacksonville and Lauren Phillips had a career-high four goals as Jacksonville won the draw control battle 25-10. Megan Prescott had nine draw controls and Molly Brock had eight.

Ella Smith had three goals and an assist for Vanderbilt (12-7), while Bri Gross, Maddie Souza and Callie Sundin each scored twice.

Jacksonville (12-1) plays at state rival Florida in the second round on Sunday. The Dolphins upset Florida 12-11 on March 13. The Gators haven’t lost since.

Maryland Opens Title Defense with Win Over High Point

It seems like a lifetime ago, but the last time the NCAA women’s lacrosse tournament was played, Maryland was celebrating a victory over Boston College in May of 2019.

The Terps began defense of that championship with a dominating 17-6 victory over High Point. Libby May had a career-high five goals, her sister, Catie, also had five points on a goal and four assists and Grace Griffin had three goals and two assists.

Sophomore goalie Emily Sterling also came up big for Maryland (10-6), making 11 saves while allowing just four goals.

Rachel Foster scored twice for High Point (10-8).

Maryland advances to play its old ACC rival, Duke, on Sunday in the second round.

NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship - 1st Round

Boston College 19, Fairfield 6
Denver 15, Stanford 13
Duke 19, Mount St. Mary's 3
Florida 23, Mercer 5
Jacksonville 20, Vanderbilt 12
James Madison 9, Johns Hopkins 6
Loyola 11, Hofstra 9
Maryland 17, High Point 6
Notre Dame 16, Fairfield 0
Rutgers 16, Drexel 13
Stony Brook 14, Towson 8
Temple 14, Massachusetts 13
Virginia 19, Connecticut 13