Game thread- #20 lacrosse visiting #12/13 Virginia Tech (Saturday, 2/16, 11:00 AM MT)

Best wishes to the team as they continue their VERY challenging non-conference schedule with a trip to Blacksburg VA to face the #12/13 Hokies***, with the game scheduled to start at 11:00 AM MT/ 1:00 PM ET at their Beamer-Lawson Indoor Practice Facility.
(***I'm using the rankings from the 2 polls which were released after last week's opening action. The #14 noted by cubuffs below for VA Tech is from the Coaches' Association, which didn't do a poll after week one.)

Play hard and smart Buffs!

Preview-


Direct link - https://cubuffs.com/news/2019/2/14/buffs-head-east-to-take-on-no-14-virginia-tech.aspx
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BOULDER — The University of Colorado lacrosse team is on the road this week to face its second straight top-15 opponent in No. 14 Virginia Tech. The two will meet on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 11 a.m. MT/1 p.m. ET at Blacksburg, Va., in Beamer-Lawson Indoor Practice Facility.

HOW TO WATCH: The game will be streamed on ESPN3.

Live stats will also be available online at https://buffs.me/2DAvtCD.

ABOUT THE BUFFS: The Buffs are currently ranked 17th in the IWLCA Poll and are 20th in the Inside Lacrosse Media and US Lacrosse Magazine Polls. Colorado is 0-1 to start the season after falling to No. 6 Florida, 16-9, on Feb. 9.
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ABOUT THE HOKIES: The Hokies are 1-1 to start the season and are currently ranked 14th in the IWLCA poll. They started the season off with a 14-4 win against Bucknell before falling 14-8 to James Madison on Feb. 13.

Emma Crooks leads VT with six points (five goals and one assist), while Paige Petty is second with five points (four goals and one assist). Four other players have scored at least two goals this season for the Hokies.

Morgan Berman has started both games for VT. She has allowed 17 goals for an 8.76 goals against average and has made 10 saves for a .370 save percentage.

THE SERIES: Colorado owns a 1-0 lead in the all-time series. The Buffs won the only meeting, 18-3, on March 4, 2018.

UP NEXT: The Buffs come home next week for a pair of games at Kittredge Field. They will take on their third straight top-15 ranked opponent in No. 5 Stony Brook on Feb. 22. That game is set to begin at 3 p.m. MT. Then on Feb. 24, the Buffs will host Michigan at 12 p.m. MT.
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Game notes - https://cubuffs.com/documents/2019/2/14//2019_Lacrosse_Notes_2_14.pdf

Live video (Looks like ACC Network Extra may offer free live streams..?.) - http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3480260/20-colorado-vs-12-virginia-tech-w-lacrosse

Live stats - https://hokiesports.com/sidearmstats/wlax/summary

Game day!
(I probably will not be able to give live updates today.)

Nice 1st half for the Buffs.

BIG win over the #12/13 Hokies!!!!

Way to go Buffs!!!!

Article on today's win. (Great the Buffs are getting big contributions from a wide range of players from senior leaders to true freshmen early in the season heading into a HUGE game hosting #5 Stony Brook this coming Friday at 3:00.)



Direct link - https://cubuffs.com/news/2019/2/16/buffs-rebound-with-road-win-against-no-14-virginia-tech.aspx

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BLACKSBURG, Va. – Just one week after dropping its season opener, the University of Colorado lacrosse team bounced back with a convincing win over the No. 14 Virginia Tech Hokies, defeating the Hokies (1-2) in their home arena, 17-6, on Saturday afternoon.

The Buffs (1-1), which are currently ranked 17th in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Poll and are 20th in the Inside Lacrosse and US Lacrosse polls, were firing on all cylinders on both ends of the field. While the offense caught fire, the defense also stepped up and had several huge stops, limiting VTU's opportunities.

"We knew this was going to be a tough game for us and we needed to improve on our effort from last weekend," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "I thought we played with more purpose and aggressiveness today. I was pleased with that and we need to continue that to be successful this coming weekend at home."

Senior Samantha Nemirov led the Buffs in scoring with five goals, but another pair of Buffs, senior Miranda Stinson and freshman Charlie Rudy, had four goals apiece. In total, seven Buffs found the back of the net.

In comparison, only three Hokies scored goals. Paige Petty recorded four, while Reilly Reed and Emma Crooks each recorded one.
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KEY STATISTICS: Colorado held the edge in draw controls, 17-8, for the game. Freshman Kate Burnside took the majority of the draws, but sophomore Eliza Cahill won eight of those to lead the Buffs. Burnside won two, while Stinson had three and sophomore Devon Bayer collected two.

Another area that really helped the Buffs was shots. CU had 18 in the first half and 16 in the second half for a total of 34 and held VTU to just 22 in the game (nine in the first and 13 in the second).

The Buffs also converted on 50.0% of their free-position attempts (4-8), while the Hokies were just 1 of 4.
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NOTABLE:

• Samantha Nemirov extended her points-streak to 22 games.
• Julia Lisella earned her first win of the season with five saves, two in the first half and three in the second half.
• CU is 36-0 when scoring 15 or more goals and improved to 25-21 when playing on the road.
• The Buffs are also 46-7 when scoring the first goal of the game.
• CU leads the all-time series against VTU 2-0.
• The Buffs also defeated VTU 18-3 in 2018 in Boulder.
• Both teams were ranked in both meetings.
• Virginia Tech is currently ranked 14th in the IWLCA poll, but is 12th in the Inside Lacrosse poll and is 13th in the USL poll.

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UP NEXT: Colorado returns home to Boulder for a pair of non-conference contests next weekend. The Buffs host their third straight top-15 opponent, No. 5 Stony Brook, on Feb. 22, at 3 p.m. Then on Feb. 24, CU will face Michigan at 12 p.m. Both games will be played at Kittredge Field.

QUOTEABLE:
Head Coach Ann Elliott Whidden
"We knew this was going to be a tough game for us and we needed to improve on our effort from last weekend. I thought we played with more purpose and aggressiveness today. I was pleased with that and we need to continue that to be successful this coming weekend at home."

"Overall, I am pleased with our effort and fight today; we can build off of that. We still have a lot to prove and we know we need to get better this week in practice."

"As we get ready for next weekend, there are lots of things we need to tighten up and we need to continue to get better as a team. We need to take care of the ball better and make sure we are finishing every play."
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Box score - https://cubuffs.com/boxscore.aspx?path=wlax&id=12787

really nice win. Dominated a top 15 team on the road. Two big games this weekend. People should get out to Kitt and watch. IMO Elliot may be the best coach on campus after Wetmore and Rokos.

Bmixer said:

IMO Elliot may be the best coach on campus after Wetmore and Rokos.

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No doubt, Elliot has done nothing but excel since she arrived. Extremely impressed with what she has built, and how she went about it.

AztecBuff said:

...HUGE game hosting #5 Stony Brook this coming Friday at 3:00.)
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UP NEXT: Colorado returns home to Boulder for a pair of non-conference contests next weekend. The Buffs host their third straight top-15 opponent, No. 5 Stony Brook, on Feb. 22, at 3 p.m. Then on Feb. 24, CU will face Michigan at 12 p.m. Both games will be played at Kittredge Field.
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I might have to go to the Friday game. Can't lose.... either my alma mater wins or the school I currently support wins.

Some highlights from yesterday.

After the big win, team up to #'s 13, 14 and 15 in the 3 main polls.



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And, congrats to senior Miranda Stinson and sophomore Eliza Cahill for the Pac 12 weekly honors!