BLACKSBURG -The Virginia Tech lacrosse team will travel to Charlottesville, Virginia Saturday, April 20 to take on seventh-ranked Virginia Saturday at 12 p.m. The game can be seen on ACC Network Extra.
The Hokies will look to snap out a four-game losing streak dating back to the March 27 defeat to No. 4 North Carolina. All four of the losses were to top-five ranked opponents, the latest coming at the hands of undefeated and No. 1 Boston College on Saturday.
The Hokies were led by Paige Petty's five goals and six points in the 16-13 defeat to the Eagles. Taylor Caskey had a hat trick and an assist for four points, and Julia Bolte added three points in the loss. Defensively, Mary Claire Byrne scooped up a game-high five ground balls. Goalie Morgan Berman made four saves.
Saturday's game marks the fifth straight game that Virginia Tech will take on a top-10 opponent. The seventh-ranked Cavaliers will be the tenth ranked opponent the Hokies play this season. Tech holds a 1-8 record against ranked opponents this season, triumphing over Denver when they were the 13th-ranked team on March 17 on Thompson Field.
The Cavaliers
Virginia goes into Saturday's contest with an 11-5 overall record, 2-4 in the ACC. Ranked seventh in the latest Inside Lacrosse poll, the Cavaliers have beaten No. 7 James Madison and No. 13 Duke this season.
The Cavaliers are led by junior midfielder Sammy Mueller who has 40 goals and 21 assists for 61 points this season. Senior midfielder Maggie Jackson leads the team in assists with 29 and is fifth in the ACC in assists per game at 1.81. Goalie Charlie Campbell has started all 16 games for the Cavs and averages an ACC-leading 8.81 saves per game.
Jackson and Mueller are both on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List.
The Series
Virginia Tech and Virginia have met on the lacrosse field 24 times, with the Cavaliers winning 22 of those games. However, one of Tech's two victories came last season, a 16-12 win in Blacksburg. Petty and Sarah Lubnow each had four points in the win, and Bolte scored three goals at Lane Stadium on Senior Day in 2018.
The Hokies have never defeated the Cavs in Charlottesville in 11 attempts.
The Commonwealth Clash
Saturday's game represents one point in the annual Virginia 529 Commonwealth Clash. The competition rewards points for victories in Virginia Tech-Virginia athletic contests. With six events remaining in this year's Clash, the Hokies hold a one-point advantage at 8.5 to 7.5.
The school that reaches 11.5 points wins the Commonwealth Clash.
Looking Ahead
After the regular-season finale on Saturday, Virginia Tech will turn its focus to the ACC Tournament. This year's tournament will be hosted by Boston College and played in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The first round begins on April 24.
