Hokies close out non-conference with huge 19-5 victoryHokies close out non-conference with huge 19-5 victory
Lacrosse

Hokies close out non-conference with huge 19-5 victory

BLACKSBURG- The No. 12 Virginia Tech lacrosse team defeated Campbell 19-5 on Friday afternoon. The game was Tech’s final non-conference match up before closing the season with five straight ACC opponents, beginning with North Carolina on Tuesday. The 11th win on the season matches the mark set by the 1999 team for best in program history.

“Our goal is to keep going and rewrite the record book but we have to take it one game at a time,” said John Sung. “Now we have to get ready for Carolina.”

Tech was in the ascendancy from the opening whistle as Emma Harden got the Hokies on the board within the first two minutes. One minute later, Loscalzo fired home the first of her career-high six goals of the afternoon and Tech jumped out to an 11-0 lead. Loscalzo added an assist for seven points on the afternoon.

“Kristine had a great game and shot the ball really well,” said Sung. “She practiced great all week so I knew this was coming.”

The defense and goalie Meagh Graham kept the Camels off the board for the first 25 minutes of the game, a season best. Graham, the owner of the ACC’s fourth best goals against average make three saves and did not allow any goals before exiting the match. Sydney Gagnon and Charlie Fix combined to play the final 44 minutes, for Tech’s fourth ranked defense in the nation.

“We played everybody which is really good,” commented Sung. “We got to rest some kids as we head into conference play. There were 10 different goal scorers which is great.”

Led by Loscalzo’s six, the Hokies scored 19 Friday, the most since putting 20 past Radford on Feb. 25. Zan Biedenharn had three goals, Harden scored twice and Taylor Caskey added two goals on the afternoon. Another six Hokies scored one goal each to round out the scoring.

Inside the box score
-Tristan McGinley continued her streak of scoring in every game in 2017. She is also the only Hokie to score a point in every game this season.
-The Hokies completed 100 percent of their clear opportunities for the second game in a row.
-Mary Claire Byrne forced two more turnovers. She leads the conference in that category in 2017.
-Loscalzo joins McGinley as the only Hokies to score 40 points this season.
-Tech concludes its non-conference schedule at 9-2.
-Tech remains undefeated in road contests in 2017 (5-0).

Next up for the Hokies is a match up with the defending national champions, the North Carolina Tar Heels. The game is set for Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Thompson Field.