Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech lacrosse team had never won more than 11 games in a single season before 2018. It had never won more than two ACC contests. It had never won a game at the ACC Championships. And it had never earned a bid to the NCAA tournament.
All of those barriers were broken this past season as the Hokies went 14-7, including 5-2 in the ACC and advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA tournament, thanks in large part to the senior class, a group of eight young women who were the catalysts for the program's remarkable turnaround.
Tech's eight seniors; Tristan McGinley, Brittney VanVeldhuisen, Carly Primo, Emma Harden, Kristen Kohles, Kelly Glatthorn, Meagh Graham and Marissa Davey were at the heart of the Hokies' ascension into a team to be reckoned with, in the ACC and on the national stage.
The class of 2018 won 36 career games, the most in program history and combined to produce 323 points in their careers that culminated in three First Team All-ACC selections in 2018.
Below is a look at each senior's contributions to the program.
Tristan McGinley
McGinley, an attacker and two-time Tewaaraton Award Watch List member earned First Team All-ACC accolades in 2018, a season that saw her score 51 points. McGinley tallied three game-winning goals in her career, perhaps none as significant as the one she scored in double overtime to defeat No. 18 Syracuse on April 7, 2018. The win was the Hokies' first ever against the Orange.
She ranks fifth all-time in goals (129), eighth in total points (146) and third in draw controls (244) in Tech history. Her 96 draws in 2018 reset the record that she had set in 2017 when she had 95.
Brittney VanVeldhuisen
VanVeldhuisen was a staple of the Hokies' defense her junior and senior seasons, starting 37 times in 39 appearances. In 2018 she caused a career high nine turnovers and also recorded 12 ground balls.
Carly Primo
Primo, another defender racked up 34 ground balls and 28 caused turnovers in her career, which included scoring a goal against NRV rival Radford in 2017.
Emma Harden
An attacker, Harden saw her 2018 season cut short due to injury after 13 games, in which she had scored 22 times, including an overtime game-winner against George Mason. Harden, who did not compete in 2016, will be returning to the Hokies' squad for the 2019 season.
She has recorded 66 goals in 42 career games.
Kristen Kohles
The Bel Air, Maryland native was a starter for all four years at Tech, playing in 74 games as a part of the defense. She racked up 92 ground balls and 50 caused turnovers in her career. In the 2018 ACC tournament versus UNC, Kohles scored her only career goal, taking the ball over the restraining line on a clear attempt and continuing towards goal sending her shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Kelly Glatthorn
A starter for all 40 games of the John Sung era, Glatthorn earned First Team All-ACC honors in 2018 for her play in the defense and also on the draw circle where she corralled 50 draws this past season. Glatthorn tallied 83 ground balls, 44 caused turnovers and 99 draw controls during her career and also scored 14 points. Additionally, she was an IWLCA First Team All-South Region selection in 2018.
Marissa Davey
Davey, who transferred from UMBC and suited up for the Hokies in 2017 and 2018, started 39 of her 40 games for Tech and scored 61 goals. She tallied 41 ground balls, 20 draw controls and 17 caused turnovers. The midfielder also provided 27 assists and was remarkably consistent, tallying 44 points in both of her seasons for the Hokies.
Meagh Graham
A member of the Hokies' 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018 teams, Graham has been a part of 38 wins, making her the winningest player in program history. During the 2017 season, Graham recorded a goals against average of 9.64, the lowest in Tech's history for a single season.
She stamped her name across the record book, finishing her career finishing first all-time in ground balls (192), ninth in caused turnovers (64) and fourth in saves with 503.
Graham was a First Team All-ACC performer in 2018 and also was recognized on the ACC's All-Tournament team.
Other Hokies team notes:
Mary Claire Byrne
A redshirt junior, Byrne received her degree in public relations in May but will return to the squad in 2019. She ranks fifth all-time in caused turnovers with 69 in her career and has scored 47 points for the Hokies.