Hokie ClubOn a snowy day in Cincinnati the Virginia Tech lacrosse team earned a 20-5 victory once again behind a dynamic trio of midfielders who racked up 16 of the team's 29 points. Virginia Tech moves to 5-1 ahead of the first conference matchup of the season at Louisville this Saturday.
Cincinnati fell to 0-4.
"It was a pretty good day today for us we shot over 50%," said head coach John Sung. "I thought the draw and the ride was good, the redefend was good today all of the hustle plays we were making."
Tech scored the opening two goals of the game through Taylor Caskey and Sarah Lubnow before the Bearcats pulled one back. From there, the Hokies scored the next nine goals in the game, holding the Bearcats scoreless for over 15 minutes.
The Hokies took a commanding 14-2 lead into the locker room.
In the second frame, Tech kept up the pressure while also working in some substitutes, like Grace Nelson who scored her third goal of the season.
Freshman attacker Jacelyn Lazore who made her second career start had four assists, a new career-best. Caskey registered a hat trick and also recorded her 50th career assist in the game, becoming the seventh player in program history to hit that mark.
After Mary Clare McCarthy scored a goal in the Elon game, sophomore defender Jordan Tilley scored her first point of her career with an assist to Caskey in the second half. She also had a caused turnover and two ground balls.
"I thought our midfield on the circle was really good," Sung said. "I thought Emma Crooks and Paige Petty played really well. Kayla Frank did what she needed to do today as well, I'm really liking how all three are playing."
"Emma crooks was on fire," Sung stated. Crooks finished the game with four goals and also tied her career-high with eight draw controls.
For the Bearcats, Monica Borzillo recorded four points and registered a hat trick in the game.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Tech had a season low nine turnovers, while forcing 19 by the Bearcats.
- The Hokies owned the draw circle, winning 18 of the game's 26. Paige Petty and Emma Crooks each gathered eight.
- Virginia Tech outshot Cincinnati 39-7.
GAME NOTES
- Paige Petty registered her fourth hat trick of the season and now has 25 goals on the season to lead the Hokies.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS – A LOOK AT INDIVIDUALS IN THE RECORD BOOK
- Career points - Paige Petty moved into fourth with 170
- Career goals – Paige Petty ranks third with 150
- Career assists - Taylor Caskey moved into a tie for seventh with 50
- Career draw controls - Paige Petty moved into sixth with 163
- Career draw controls – Emma Crooks moved into ninth with 122
NEXT TIME ON THE FIELD
- The Hokies will travel to Louisville (Feb. 29) to play their first ACC game of the season.
- Louisville leads the all-time series 5-2, although Tech has won the meeting in each of the last two seasons, both one-goal contests. Last season the Hokies won 17-16 at Thompson Field behind six points from Mary Claire Byrne and five goals from Paige Petty.
NEXT TIME AT THE BEAMER-LAWSON INDOOR PRACTICE FACILITY
- The Hokies are back home at the Beamer-Lawson Indoor Practice Facility on Wednesday, March 4 when they play host to the William & Mary Tribe.
- Tech has won all three of the past four meetings with the Tribe, but trail in the all-time series 4-6.
- The last meeting was a 17-12 victory for Tech in 2017, that featured one half played at Thompson Field and one played indoors due to weather. Five Hokies scored hat tricks led by Marissa Davey's five points and in goal Meagh Graham made 10 saves.
Gallery: (2/26/2020) 2020 LACROSSE at CINCINNATI