The 2020 lacrosse season came to an abrupt end on March 12 amid nationwide concerns for COVID-19, but there was no shortage of season highlights, record-breaking performances and top moments to chronicle for Head Coach John Sung and his student-athletes.
Here is a chronological journey through the season that was for the Hokies.
February 4 – Petty selected to Preseason All-ACC Team
After just two seasons, Paige Petty, the Bernardsville, N.J., native has already placed herself among some of the best to ever play at Tech. Petty is the only Hokie to earn multiple first-team All-ACC awards, multiple IWLCA All-Region selections and an All-American nod.
She began the 2020 season ranking 10th in career points, sixth in goals and seventh in draw controls in Virginia Tech history
She added All-ACC Academic Team-honors to her list of accolades last season and has been recognized by the state’s sports information directors as an All-State performer twice. Petty has also been featured on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, an award given annually to the top player in the nation.
For the second consecutive year, she was recognized as an All-State player by the state’s sports information directors.
Petty concluded the 2019 season with a 3.26 career goals per game average, which ranked 10th amongst active student-athletes.
During the 2019 season, Petty set the record for most goals in a single season (66). She is sixth all-time in goals (124), tied for tenth in points all-time (139) and tied for first for the most points scored in a single season (74)
In the preseason, Tech was ranked 23rd in the nation.
February 8 – Frank records eight points as Hokies open 2020 with victory
Freshman midfielder Kayla Frank scored the game’s first three goals, part of a 5-0 run, and the Virginia Tech lacrosse team got off to a winning start to the 2020 season inside the Beamer-Lawson Indoor Practice Facility by defeating Davidson 27-10.
Tech began the season with a victory for the third time in the last four years.
“Eight points in her first college game is a great starting point for the year,” head coach John Sung said of the Moorestown, N.L., native who scored three times and provided a game-high five assists.
Frank was a part of the starting midfield with juniors Paige Petty and Emma Crooks that combined to score 16 of the squad’s 27 points in the game. All three recorded hat tricks, and freshman Jacelyn Lazore also added two goals from the midfield.
In the attack, senior Julia Bolte provided four points (two goals, two assists) and captain Taylor Caskey added three points (one goal, two assists).
In goal for Tech was Angie Benson, making her first appearance on a competitive lacrosse field in two years. The Palm City, Fla., native recorded 11 saves and two ground balls in 48 minutes of work. She faced 25 shots from the Wildcats.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Tech held an edge on the draw circle 16-13. Emma Crooks led the team with six. Both teams were efficient on the clear, with Tech converting 20-22 opportunities and Davidson 18-21. The Wildcats outshot the Hokies 30-28, but Tech placed more on frame 23-21.
GAME NOTES
Eight Hokies saw their first action, seven freshmen and goalie Angie Benson.
All three of Tech’s active goalies saw time in the game.
With her two assists, Taylor Caskey moved into a tie for 10th place all-time in school history with 42. The senior has 111 total points.February 15 – Petty, midfield carry Hokies to 20-5 victory over Flames
February 15 – Petty, midfield carry Hokies to 29-5 victory over Liberty
Paige Petty tied a career-best with seven goals as she led the Hokies to their second victory of the season, a 29-5 win over Liberty. She was a part of the starting midfield group that scored 20 of the team’s 29 points as Emma Crooks (six goals) and Kayla Frank (two goals) were also all over the scoresheet.
The Hokies moved to 2-1 on the season. Liberty dropped to 0-2 on the season.
The Flames scored the contest’s opening goal and held a 2-1 lead six minutes into the game before the Hokies reeled off three straight goals to take control. They would not look back, scoring 16 straight goals between the 13:26 mark in the first half and the 2:01 mark in the second while holding the Flames scoreless for nearly 41 minutes.
Crooks scored three straight Tech goals at one point, and Petty found the net five times in the first half as the teams went to the locker room with the Hokies leading 12-3.
Freshman Kayla Frank added two goals, two assists, three ground balls, five draw controls and caused two turnovers in the game.
Jacelyn Lazore (two), Grace Nelson (one), Sarah Lubnow (one) and Taylor Caskey (one) also added goals in the rout, and senior Julia Bolte provided one assist to take her tally to five in 2020.
Angie Benson made five saves in the game and only surrendered three goals on 13 shots faced.
The defensive unit caused 16 total Liberty turnovers with Kendall Welch, Elena Ricci and Jordan Tilley each credited with two. Ricci had five ground ball pickups.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Tech held an edge in almost every category in the game, beginning with draws 15-12.
The Hokies took 33 shots, the Flames just 15.
Virginia Tech corralled 28 ground balls to the Flames’ 21.
On the clear, the Hokies converted 17-17 (88%) while Liberty was 9-17 (53%).
GAME NOTES
Tech utilized a different starting lineup for the first time in 2020 with Sara Goodwin earning her first start of the season and freshman Jacelyn Lazore starting for the first time in her career.
Senior Julia Bolte recorded one assist, bringing her career total to 58.
With her goal, Taylor Caskey brought her career point total to 115.
The starting midfield trio of Petty, Crooks and Frank’ who combined for 20 of the squad’s 29 points against Liberty, has recorded 43 points through three games this season to account for 61% of the team’s scoring on the year.
Petty’s nine points were a new career-best and is tied for the fourth-most scored by a Hokie in any single game.
February 19 – Frank’s record-breaking performance propels Hokies to 19-2 victory over Radford
Freshman Kayla Frank recorded a program-record eight assists as the Hokies earned their third win of the season, defeating Radford 19-2 in the Beamer-Lawson Indoor Practice Facility.
Tech sits 3-1 on the season. Radford dropped to 1-2 on the season.
The game was scoreless for the opening six minutes of play until a goal from Julia Bolt jump-started a Hokies’ offense that would go on to score 16 of the next 18 goals.
Tech was led in the attack by Sarah Lubnow as the junior tallied a career- high five goals to go with her two assists on the day. Also contributing in the attack, senior Julia Bolte added three points (two goals, one assist).
The midfield of Frank (three goals, eight assists), Paige Petty (two goals, one assists) and Emma Crooks (one goal) continued their excellent play as the trio combined for 15 points.
In goal for the Hokies, Angie Benson finished with nine saves and surrendered two goals on 13 shots faced
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Tech held the edge in every category in the game, beginning with draws 14-9.
The Hokies took 42 shots as the Highlanders attempted just 13.
Virginia Tech corralled 29 ground balls to Radford’s 21.
On the clear, the Hokies converted 15-17 (88%) while Liberty was 12-22 (55%).
GAME NOTES
The starting midfield trio of Petty, Crooks and Frank, who combined for 15 of the squad’s 34 points, has recorded 58 points through four games this season to account for 55% of the team’s scoring on the year.
Frank recorded a new career-best 11 points and is now tied for the second-most scored by a Hokie in any single game.
February 29 – Lubnow leads Hokies to 8-7 victory over Louisville
The Virginia Tech lacrosse team hung on to a lead late behind the stellar play of goalie Angie Benson to earn an 8-7 victory over Louisville. The Hokies moved to 6-1 (1-0) on the season after going 3-0 in their last three games away from Blacksburg.
In a low-scoring affair, Sarah Lubnow kick-started the offense with a three-goal run midway through the first half, giving the Hokies a lead that they would not relinquish.
“Sarah Lubnow on the offensive side was great, she got us going in that first half and I think we got on a roll,” said head coach John Sung.
Paige Petty scored two goals and the Hokies got one goal apiece from Kayla Frank, Reilly Reed and Taylor Caskey.
“Angie Benson was amazing today with 16 saves,” Sung said. “She played really well. That’s what we knew she was capable of and why we wanted to bring her into our program.”
Benson backed up the defense that was active all afternoon, forcing seven turnovers and making the Cardinal uncomfortable and routinely running down the shot clock.
“I thought our defense was really solid today,” Sung said of the effort. “Louisville is a good team and to come get our first ACC win of the year is really good for us.”
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
The Hokies had the edge on the draw circle 11-6.
Both teams had 20 clears, Tech on 21 attempts and Louisville on 24
The Cardinals’ defense was whistled for 43 fouls while the Hokies committed 22.
GAME NOTES
The Hokies utilized the same starting lineup for the second straight game.
Lubnow’s hat trick was her second of the season and third of her career.
MARCH 4 – Hokies roll to 23-3 victory over William and Mary
Led by Paige Petty, the Virginia Tech lacrosse team used a quick start to record their sixth consecutive victory as they defeated William & Mary 23-3 in the Beamer-Lawson Indoor Practice Facility.
Tech now sits 7-1 on the season. William and Mary fell to 1-5 on the season
It only took 14 seconds for the Hokies to get on the board as Taylor Caskey was able to find the back of the net off a free position attempt. Tech would go on to score four consecutive goals to extend their lead to 5-0. The Hokies could not be stopped from that moment on as they outscored the Tribe 9-2 over the remainder of the half.
Tech carried their momentum into the second frame as they scored nine of the next 10 goals and held William and Mary scoreless for the final 20 minutes.
The Hokies were led in the attack by Taylor Caskey as the senior had two assists and tied her career high with four goals. Sara Goodwin also contributed to the attack, scoring two goals.
Petty (7 goals), Kayla Frank (3 goals, 3 assists), and Emma Crooks (4 goals) combined for 17 points to lead Tech’s midfield.
It was another solid performance by Angie Benson in goal as she finished with seven saves and surrendered only three goals on 10 shots faced.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
The Hokies held the edge in the draw circle 19-8.
On the clear, the Hokies converted 19-20 (95%) while William and Mary was 14-15 (93%).
Tech committed a season-low seven turnovers while William and Mary had 19.
The Hokies outshot William and Mary 44-10.
GAME NOTES
Emma Crooks recorded her fourth hat trick of the season.
Paige Petty and Kayla Frank each recorded their fifth hat trick of the season.
Paige Petty leads the Hokies with 35 goals on the season.
Sara Goodwin recorded her first goal of the season.
Tech’s opening goal was their fastest goal scored in the season.
March 12 – Team finishes season at 7-3.
The abrupt cancellation of the season on March 12 meant the Hokies finished with a record of 7-3.
