US Lacrosse Magazine released the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason Top 20 on Jan. 2. 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. 17 Virginia

2018 Record: 10-10 (4-3 ACC)
Coach: Julie Myers (24th year)

All-Time Record: 514-226-5
NCAA Appearances: 31
Final Fours: 14
Championships: 3

Virginia has made 23 consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament, but that’s not good enough for head coach Julie Myers, who has been at the helm for each of those 23 trips.

A Cavaliers program that won a national title under Myers in 2004, and has reached the title game seven times on her watch, is looking for more. Virginia last reached the NCAA final four weekend in 2014.

“We want to make it deeper into May,” Myers said. “It definitely makes for a long summer when you get knocked out early.”

Virginia had an impressive 12-3 win over Stanford to open last year’s tourney, but then fell 15-12 to eventual national champion James Madison in the round of 16. It capped a roller coaster season for the Cavs, one that saw them open 8-2 with impressive wins over Princeton and Syracuse, only to drop seven of their next eight games leading into the NCAA tournament.

Virginia finished dead even at 10-10, and while Myers can point to some little details for the late season struggles, a legitimate factor was a tougher second half schedule. Virginia played a brutal slate, but especially so in the second half.  The second half of the season opened with games against Boston College, Maryland and Penn State — all 2017 final four teams — and also featured two games against JMU.

Things won’t be any easier this time around. Myers wants to play the best and this year’s schedule includes 11 games against tournament teams from a year ago.

“We work so hard to be tested and if we say we want to play the best of the best, then I feel like you have to present that kind of schedule,” Myers said.

Fortunately, she has a fairly experienced team to navigate the choppy waters.

Virginia returns eight starters and the strength will be in the midfield with senior Maggie Jackson and junior Sammy Mueller. 

Jackson, a second team All-American in 2017, is a two-year captain and four-year starter who was second on the team with 64 points last year and led the Cavs in assists (32), ground balls (52) and draw controls (97).

Mueller earned third team All-America honors last year after leading the team in goals (59) and points (74) while adding 71 draw controls.

Avery Shoemaker, a 51-goal scorer last year, leads an attack unit that must replace Kasey Behr, who scored more than 150 goals in her career.

The defense has to replace four-year starting goalie Rachel Vander Kolk, but second team All-ACC defenders Sophie Alecce and Kaitlin Luzik return.

The Case For Virginia

Virginia has the potential to become one of the most nation’s most prolific offensive teams. The Cavaliers return three 60-point scorers in Maggie Jackson, Sammy Mueller and Avery Shoemaker and young players like sophomore Chloe Jones, and freshmen Annie Dyson and Courtlynne Caskin are ready to contribute.  

The Case Against Virginia

Virginia ranked just 57th in scoring defense a year ago and must replace four-year starting goaltender Rachel Vander Kolk. Senior Ashley Morris and junior Charlie Campbell are battling for the position, but both have limited experience at the collegiate level. Morris has played in just seven games over her first three years and Campbell played in seven games last year.

Path to the Playoffs

Virginia’s schedule is so difficult that it has to do relatively well in the ACC to ensure being over .500 to remain eligible. That’s no easy feat with the level of play in the league right now. Myers says that Boston College and North Carolina are the clear favorites, but it’s wide open after that. “From three through eight, anything can happen,” Myers said. “I think you’ll see some blowouts you’ll be surprised by and some upsets you’ll be surprised by.”

Players To Watch

Maggie Jackson, M, Sr.
32 G, 32 A, 97 DC

Athletic do-it-all player who earned second team all-region honors after being named an All-American in 2017. Tied a school record with 97 draw controls and led the team with 32 assists.

Sammy Mueller, M, Jr.
59 G, 15 A

A smooth midfielder, Mueller led the Cavaliers in scoring to earn third team All-America honors and is one of three returning 60-point scorers for the Cavaliers. She had 13 hat tricks and also finished second on the team with 81 draw controls.

Avery Shoemaker, A, Sr.
51 G, 11 A

Sharp-shooter (53.1%) who had seven four-goal games last season and will also be one of the primary players taking the draws for the Cavaliers.

National Rankings

Power Ratings (Scale of 1-5)

Offense
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Defense
⭐⭐⭐

Goalkeeping
⭐⭐⭐

Draw
⭐⭐⭐⭐

18

Number of games, out of 20, Virginia played in 2018 against teams that made the NCAA tournament at least once in 2017 or 2018. Duke and William & Mary were the only opponents not to go dancing in the last two years.

5-Year Trend
Scoring Defense

Coach Confidential
Julie Myers

“That’s an ongoing battle,” said Virginia head coach on the goaltending battle between Ashley Morris and Charlie Campbell. "They play different styles and it’s not clear cut. Then we’ll probably start one and bring in the other for the second half.”

Enemy Lines

"Virginia looked fast. They looked dominant on the draw in the fall. Their transition game was impressive."

"Virginia’s always good. It always comes down to how they’re organized, what players step up. They can beat anybody, but sometimes they show up a little flat, too. They’re going to be a very solid team again this year."

"Always a fast and smart team. You always have to be ready for all their looks. That’ll be the same this year."