Published March 31, 2005, in issue 0413 of the Hook

BY KELLY WATT

Best Lady's Lacrosse Legend: In an echo of last season's national championship game, Amy Appelt makes history leading the No.4 UVA women's lacrosse team to an 8-4 triumph over the No. 3 Princeton Tigers Saturday, March 26. The fourth-year attacker notches her 218th and 219th career goals to break Lauren Aumiller's record of 217 set just two years ago. "I think we all knew she was going to break records before she even got here," UVA coach Julie Myers told the Daily Progress. Despite Appelt's offensive fireworks, UVA's victory owed as much to suffocating defensive play as goalkeeper Ginger Miles shut down the Tigers for 40 minutes. After Princeton opened the game with an early goal, "[Miles] came up with saves I didn't know any goalie could come up with," Appelt told the Progress. "She was just amazing."

Best Road Trip: For the first time in five years, the Washington Wizards (39-30) complete a brutal West coast road trip with a winning record. On Monday, March 28, the Wiz beat the Portland Trail Blazers 114-106 to close their trip with a 3-2 record. As the regular season heads into its final weeks, Washington can enjoy the support of their home MCI Center crowd in eight of their final 12 games. "I hope our fans back in D.C. realize we're starting a new era in Washington," Wizard's coach Eddie Jordan told ESPN.com.

Toughest Road Warriors: Covenant School's lacrosse team enjoys one of their most thrilling weeks ever as they knock off two arch rivals in dramatic fashion. Behind the strong leadership of senior Steve Shoeffel, Covenant holds off a late rally to beat the Albemarle Patriots 15-14 Tuesday, March 22. In Crozet Thursday, March 24, another late Shoeffel rally sparks the Eagles to overcome an 11-8 fourth-quarter deficit and defeat the Western Albemarle Warriors 13-12. "[Shoeffel] is a champion, he has a heart of gold," coach Dave Breslin told the Progress. Expect the local lacrosse drama to continue this week as all three teams square off in the Dogwood tournament.

First is the Worst: In a major showdown between two undefeated programs, (not to mention a rematch of 2003 national championship game won by UVA), the No. 2 UVA men's lacrosse team falls short on the road against top-ranked Johns Hopkins (5-0), Saturday, March 26. The Blue Jays deal UVA (6-1) their first loss of the season, keeping the Cavalier offense off their stroke en route to a 9-7 victory. "That was a heck of a lacrosse game between two very good teams," Hopkins coach Dave Pietramala told the Progress. "We beat a very good Virginia lacrosse team today."

Best winning streak: Not even mother nature can stop the UVA men's baseball team (18-6, 4-3). Despite a weekend washout in Radford, the Hoos manage to capture their 10th consecutive victory, knocking off the Virginia Tech Hokies (7-9, 1-7) 8-5 on Sunday afternoon, March 27.

The Week Ahead:

WOMEN'S LACROSSE

vs. DUKE

Saturday, April 2 @ noon

MEN'S LACROSSE

vs. MARYLAND

Saturday, April 2 @ 3pm

Both the men's and women's teams continue their drive toward the national championship on a busy Saturday at Klockner Stadium. Expect conference rivals Duke and Maryland to generate plenty of heat. $6 adult, $4 youth.

MEN'S TENNIS

vs. MIAMI

Saturday, April 2 @ 1pm

vs. MARYLAND

Wednesday, April 6 @ 3pm

If you're trying to improve your game this year, take a lesson from the best players in your own back yard. The third-ranked UVA men's tennis team continues to dominate all conference foes. Catch all the action free at the UVA tennis courts.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

vs. INDIANA (36-34)

Sunday, April 3 @ 1pm

Catch a Sunday matinee at the MCI Center as the Wizards continue to battle for postseason position. Various tickets still available.

Amy Appelt makes history leading the No.4 UVA women's lacrosse team to an 8-4 triumph over the No. 3 Princeton Tigers Saturday, March 26
PHOTO COURTESY ANDREW SHURTLEFF

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