BLACKSBURG – In a unique season, the Virginia Tech lacrosse team finished with a 5-11 record that included a 1-8 mark in ACC play. Normally a seven-game conference slate, the league moved to a 10-game league season in 2021 featuring two contests against three teams. The Hokies, were one of a few programs who did not play all 10 times, finishing with nine league contests.
The season began with a comfortable 13-5 victory at Liberty before adjustments to the schedule began. An interstate matchup with James Madison was postponed and ultimately never rescheduled. Weeks later due to COVID-19 protocols Tech's trip to Notre Dame would be postponed, and the first of two matchups with national No. 1 North Carolina was also postponed without being completed.
The season did see the Hokies earn a huge win at rival and eighth-ranked Virginia (20-15) which represented the highest-ranked win for the program since defeating the Cavaliers in 2012 when they were ranked seventh. It was also the first victory for the program in Charlottesville.
Senior Midfielder Paige Petty cemented her legacy as she collected a third First Team All-ACC honor, leading the Hokies with 42 goals, including six in the win at UVA. She set the program record for goals with 204, the only athlete to eclipse 200 and she tied the program record with 227 total points. Her 241 draw controls rank fourth all-time at Virginia Tech.
Season highlights and best performances:
- Caroline Allen scored the 100th goal of her career in the season opening win at Liberty. She would score 18 goals and 25 points during the season.
- Emma Crooks recorded both her 100th career point and then 100th goal during the season. During her senior season, Crooks earned Second Team All-ACC honors again, scoring 31 goals and 35 total points. She moved into seventh place all-time at Tech with 177 draw controls.
- Sarah Lubnow led the squad in points, with 52 (23 goals and 29 assists). Her assist total is the third-most in a single season and her career total of 56 now ranks third in program history. She tallied nine total points in the Hokies' win over Radford with three goals and six assists.
- Attacker Whitney Liebler was included in the league's inaugural All-Freshman Team after recording 21 points and 14 goals. She led the Hokies with five the win over Longwood and also scored a hat trick as Tech upset Virginia in Charlottesville. The Williamsburg native scored behind the back goals in each of those contests.
- Attacker Paige Tyson scored the first goal of her career in February when the Hokies played at Virginia in a game where she would go on to score three times. The sophomore also tallied a hat trick in the second game against the Cavaliers, helping the Hokies earn the win. She totaled 12 goals in 2021.
- Senior defender Leigh Lingo scored a memorable goal on her Senior Day against Boston College in her final appearance at Thompson Field. It was her first ever shot attempt.
- All five of Tech's starting defenders; Jordan Tilley, Mary Clare McCarthy, Kendall Welch, Carly Goetz and Lingo each recorded career highs in caused turnovers during the season.