The Daily OrangeSyracuse women's lacrosse senior class looks for 1st win over Virginia
By Didier Morais
Posted: 2/26/09, 10:10 PM EST Section: Sports
Bridget Looney doesn't want to admit the truth. The senior midfielder wants to treat Syracuse's top-5 showdown against No. 4 Virginia like an average game. But despite her intentions, Looney just can't shed the history.
In the second half of last year's matchup against then-No. 2 Virginia, Looney suffered a season-ending injury, tearing her ACL as she attempted to recover a groundball. In addition to losing one of its cornerstone midfielders, Syracuse would go on to lose the game, 13-8.
A year later after injuring her knee against Virginia, Looney simply can't escape the first of the countless storylines behind her personal rivalry with the Cavaliers.
"I know this is the team I injured my knee against, but I wouldn't say I'm gonna come out any stronger than usual or what I know I'm capable of," Looney said. "I'm definitely looking forward to it, but I have my eyes on a bigger prize."
But Christina Dove isn't buying her teammate's explanation. The junior midfielder has played with Looney long enough to distinguish when she's speaking honestly and when she's withholding a secret.
"I know this game means a little something special to Bridget since it was the game she went down in," Dove said. "Our whole team is pulling for her in this game to play well, beat Virginia, and show how much she means to this team."
Virginia is currently enjoying a four-game winning streak against the Orange, leaving the current senior class - Looney, Bridget Hamm, Megan Mosenson and Awehiyo Thomas - winless against its longtime nemesis. With one last attempt of vengeance on their minds, the Orange seniors look to snap Virginia's streak Friday at 4 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.
Prior to 2005, the Orange used to be on the winning end of the rivalry series. SU had triumphantly defeated the Cavaliers for three consecutive seasons. Since Virginia coach Julie Myers revamped the Cavaliers' program and brought them back to the apex of the ACC that year, the games have returned to a rivalry format.
In the second half of last year's matchup against then-No. 2 Virginia, Looney suffered a season-ending injury, tearing her ACL as she attempted to recover a groundball. In addition to losing one of its cornerstone midfielders, Syracuse would go on to lose the game, 13-8.
A year later after injuring her knee against Virginia, Looney simply can't escape the first of the countless storylines behind her personal rivalry with the Cavaliers.
"I know this is the team I injured my knee against, but I wouldn't say I'm gonna come out any stronger than usual or what I know I'm capable of," Looney said. "I'm definitely looking forward to it, but I have my eyes on a bigger prize."
But Christina Dove isn't buying her teammate's explanation. The junior midfielder has played with Looney long enough to distinguish when she's speaking honestly and when she's withholding a secret.
"I know this game means a little something special to Bridget since it was the game she went down in," Dove said. "Our whole team is pulling for her in this game to play well, beat Virginia, and show how much she means to this team."
Virginia is currently enjoying a four-game winning streak against the Orange, leaving the current senior class - Looney, Bridget Hamm, Megan Mosenson and Awehiyo Thomas - winless against its longtime nemesis. With one last attempt of vengeance on their minds, the Orange seniors look to snap Virginia's streak Friday at 4 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.
Prior to 2005, the Orange used to be on the winning end of the rivalry series. SU had triumphantly defeated the Cavaliers for three consecutive seasons. Since Virginia coach Julie Myers revamped the Cavaliers' program and brought them back to the apex of the ACC that year, the games have returned to a rivalry format.
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