US Lacrosse Magazine released the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason Top 20 on Dec. 17. Team-by-team previews will be unveiled on uslaxmagazine.com through the end of the month and will also appear as part of the magazine’s NCAA preview edition in February.

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No. 7 Virginia

2019 Record: 13-7 (3-4, Atlantic Coast Conference)
Coach: Julie Myers (25th year)
Assistants: Lindsay Rogers, Colleen McCaffrey, Heather Dow

All-Time Record: 527-233-5
NCAA Appearances: 32
Final Fours: 14
Championships: 3

2020 Schedule

Save the Date
March 14

Virginia has a lot to pay back when it hosts Syracuse. The Orange have been a thorn in the Cavaliers’ side with nine wins in the last 10 meetings, including knocking UVA out of the ACC tournament last year. A UVA win would provide mid-season momentum and a competitive statement.

Virginia Finds Diamond in the Rough on Defense

A true walk-on is expected among the new starters on the untested Virginia defense.

Jalen Knight is a junior who is helping the Cavaliers rebuild on one end while their attack and midfield returns more experience.

“She’s a kid that we didn’t even know in high school,” coach Julie Myers said. “She came from Atlanta. She came to tryouts and has gotten so much better, not just every season, but every week. I bet you she’s going to be a force to deal with come game time in January.”

Virginia knew it would be digging deep to replace the trio of Sophie Alecce, Kaitlin Luzik and Allison Shields on the defensive end. The Cavaliers believe they have found a diamond in the rough in Knight, an all-state selection out of McIntosh High School in Peachtree City, Ga. Knight is the fourth player from her high school since 2013 to join a Division I program.

Knight appeared in four games as a freshman and then saw limited action in nine games a year ago. She can look to some of the Cavaliers’ more experienced defenders for leadership. Lauren Martin, a fourth-year starter, missed the fall after surgery but is expected to return for the spring.

“Even though she wasn’t on the field playing, she was still the leader of our defense this fall,” Myers said. “In practices and drills, no matter what we were doing, she was able to be that extra set of eyes on the defenders to give them feedback in terms of pressure on the ball or where their sticks should be, or times to check, when to slide, when to hedge. She was able to be a huge part of our defense even though she never actually played in a practice.”

Gwin Sinnott, a junior who has been riddled with injuries over her career, was healthy this fall and played herself into a starting spot. Ashley Stilo, a senior, has starting experience and is poised for a big year.

“Lauren is probably our best defender. Stilo is the nuts and bolts,” Myers said. “She’s the personality and demeanor. She’s one of our best defenders no matter what we’re trying to do, whether we’re playing man or zone or high pressure or not. She always seems to be in the right place and has the best recovery step ever.”

The defense will line up in front of returning goalie Charlie Campbell, who has tough competition to start again from freshman Aislinn McCarthy.

“We hope that competition stays healthy and motivating in that goalie spot,” Myers said. “We don’t want that position to be without competition either.”

Projected Starters

A – Nora Bowen – Sr. – 35 P, 17 GB
A – Ashlyn McGovern – Jr. – 27 G, 15 GB
A – Lillie Kloak – So. – 31 G, 7 A
A – Olivia Schildmeyer – Jr. – 8 G, 13 GB (2018)
M – Courtlynne Caskin – So. – 14 DC, 12 P
M – Annie Dyson – So. – 16 DC, 10 P
M – Sammy Mueller – Sr. - 72 P, 80 DC
D – Jalen Knight – Jr. – 1 GB, 1 CT
D – Lauren Martin – Sr. – 13 GB. 9 CT
D – Gwin Sinnott – Jr. – 6 GP, 1 GB (2018)
D – Ashley Stilo – Sr. – 20 GB, 13 CT
G – Charlie Campbell – Jr. – 181 S, 45.1 SV%

Tewaaraton Watch
Sammy Mueller, M, Sr.

There is nothing Mueller can’t do. She comes off an All-American season in which she led UVA in points, posted a career-high 24 assists, led the team with 57 ground balls for an ACC-best 2.85 ground balls per game, led the team with 27 caused turnovers and ranked second with 80 draws.

X Factor
Annie Dyson, M, So.

Dyson was off to a great start to her college career with 10 points, 16 draw controls and eight ground balls in five games before injuring her knee. Her expected return will add a spark and soften the graduation loss of Maggie Jackson in the midfield.

National Rankings

16.7

Myers believes gritty stats like ground balls and draws tell a lot. UVA ranked 81^st in ground balls per game last year. They were 49^th in 2018 and 22^nd in 2017. “I think we have to do it all better,” Myers said. “We had a solid year, but we didn’t win it all.”

Enemy Lines

“I was really impressed with Virginia, I’ve got to be honest. I thought they had lost quite a few players, but what I saw out there, they were really impressive. On the offensive end, on the defensive end, transition through the midfield. They, too, are going to be a force to be reckoned with, more so than people think. I think they’re going to be one of those, ‘Oh, wow, they’re in the Final Four’ teams. I was really, really impressed with them.”