Virginia Advances to ACC Women's Lacrosse Championship Semifinals
Breslin and Weymouth pace the Cavs with four goals apiece
Virginia's Kendall McBrearty had seven saves in goal.

Virginia's Kendall McBrearty had seven saves in goal.

April 26, 2007

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - After dominating the time of possession and limiting the scoring opportunities of the No. 5 seed Boston College Eagles, the No. 4 seed Virginia Cavaliers claimed a 15-7 victory in the first round of the 2007 ACC Women's Lacrosse Championship on Thursday. With the win, the sixth-ranked Cavs advance to semifinal action of the tournament, which is being held at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill.

Kate Breslin, who was recently named a 2007 Tewaaraton Trophy semifinalist, quickly put the Cavaliers on the board with a goal at the 28-minute mark, assisted by teammate Ashley McCulloch. Two minutes later Breslin met up with Jess Wasilewski, sailing a low shot in the corner past Eagles' keeper Katie Monaghan, to put the Cavs up 2-0 early in the game.

Named the 2006 ACC Rookie of the Year, Blair Weymouth helped UVa score a trio of goals in less than six minutes as the midfielder claimed an unassisted tally. Both Weymouth and Breslin led all players with four goals apiece for the winning effort.

Wasilewski then found the back of the net at the 18:22 mark, followed by Weymouth's second goal of the game, a low crossfire just clearing Monaghan's feet.

Junior midfielder Megan O'Malley extended the UVa lead to 6-0, while Weymouth quickly dashed down the stretch and sent an unassisted shot past the BC keeper from inside the circle.

With 5:40 on the clock, Eagles' attack Jenna McCabe opened a 3-1 Boston College run to close the first half. Virginia answered the sophomore's goal as rookie Marye Kellerman captured her first career goal.

The Eagles posted back-to-back goals entering the break as McCabe made a quick inside feed to junior attack Caitlin Swift with two minutes remaining and Elizabeth Kadison picked up a groundball to score with 39 seconds on the board.

Five different players scored for Virginia in the first half, while six different players put up counts for the Cavs in the second.

Boston College and Virginia went back and forth for the next four goals as the Eagles returned from the break with an unassisted net by sophomore Maura Mahoney; her first of the game. Taking advantage of a BC turnover, UVa answered with Breslin's third goal of the game at the 27:34 mark.

Weymouth made a right-handed shot into the right corner of the Eagles' territory, claiming her fourth, while freshman Peyton Killeen displayed the Eagles' second-half confidence with a low shot, assisted by teammate Lauren Costello.

The Cavaliers responded with five consecutive tallies, extending the score to 15-5 en route to advancing to the ACC semifinal action on Friday against top-seeded Maryland.

Opening the 4-0 run for Virginia was freshman Kaitlin Duff, who grabbed her ninth goal of the season. Duff's shot came from McCulloch, who registered two assists on the day. Two minutes later Weymouth passed to senior Megan Havrilla, who sent a shot just over BC keeper Monahan's head.

Kellerman was the key to the next three Virginia goals as she collected a trio of assists, connecting with teammates McCulloch, Breslin and senior Kaitlin Swagart.

Costello chipped away at the Cavalier lead as the freshman registered back-to-back unassisted goals for the Eagles, bringing the final score of the day to an UVa victory of 15-7.

The ACC Women's Lacrosse Championship continues Friday, April 27, as UNC, which beat Virginia Tech earlier in the day, takes on No. 2 seed Duke at 3 p.m. The Blue Devils hold a 3-2 edge over the Tar Heels in the league championship. Virginia advances to face top-seeded Maryland at 5:30 p.m.