Clark, McGovern, and Hoeg Lead No. 12 Virginia to 18-12 Win at VCU

Rachel Clark, Ashlyn McGovern, and Mackenzie Hoeg combined to score 14 goals in the Cavaliers' road win over the Rams

Matt Riley/Virginia Athletics

Rachel Clark, Ashlyn McGovern, and Mackenzie Hoeg combined to score 14 goals and the No. 12 Virginia women's lacrosse team bounced back from Saturday's loss at No. 1 Syracuse with an 18-12 victory at VCU on Wednesday evening in Richmond. 

Although the game would eventually become a comfortable win for UVA, the first quarter was anything but. Goals from Mackenzie Hoeg, Abby Manalang, and Rachel Clark gave UVA a 3-2 lead midway through the opening period, but VCU responded with three consecutive goals to go in front 5-3 as the Rams applied some early pressure to the visiting Cavaliers. 

Virginia got goals from Maureen Duffy and Rachel Clark in the final 35 seconds of the first quarter to tie the game and then UVA continued that momentum to start the second quarter, scoring five more unanswered goals, including two more from Clark, to build a 10-5 advantage. VCU snapped a scoring drought of more than 13 minutes with a couple of goals and UVA led 11-7 at halftime. 

The key to Virginia's big second quarter run was draw controls, as the Cavaliers won seven of the nine draws in the second period to gain a significant possession advantage. After not having her best day in UVA's loss at No. 1 Syracuse on Saturday, Aubrey Williams bounced back in a big way on Wednesday and matched a career-high with 15 draw controls, while also becoming UVA's all-time program leader with 304 career draw controls. 

Virginia scored three-straight goals to start the third quarter and the UVA defense held the Rams to just one goal in the period. McGovern tallied two goals in the third, the second of which gave the Cavaliers a 15-8 lead entering the final frame. VCU managed to win the fourth quarter 4-3, but UVA's lead was never in doubt as the Cavaliers cruised to the 18-12 victory. 

Rachel Clark led the way offensively for Virginia with six goals and an assist while Ashlyn McGovern recorded five goals on just six shots. Mackenzie Hoeg also recorded a hat trick and an assist and Morgan Schwab and Kate Miller had three assists apiece. Sophomore Abby Jansen got the start in the cage and made nine saves for a .429 save percentage. 

Now 9-4 overall, Virginia will look to improve on its 4-2 ACC record when the Cavaliers host No. 24 Duke on Saturday at 2pm at Klockner Stadium. 

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