Utes Drop Back-and-Forth Battle with Virginia

Saturday, March 21

Charlottesville, Va.

9:00 AM

University of Utah

5-4

Virginia

5-4

Utah

Virginia

Photo by: Virginia Athletics

3/21/2026 11:59 AM | Lacrosse

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Lenskold makes 13 saves in Charlottesville, Stines captures program points record

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Utah lacrosse program fell to the Virginia Cavaliers, 16-11, inside Scott Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The battle between the Utes (5-3) and Cavaliers (4-4) was a tale of two halves. The first was dominated by defense, with the Utes leading 3-1 after one quarter and trailing 5-4 at the halftime break. Both teams' offenses came alive in the second half, combining for 18 total goals. Virginia outscored Utah, 11-7, in the second half to snap the Utes' four-game win streak.

The two sides kept pace with one another in total shots, with Virginia holding a slight edge in attempts (43-40) and shots on goal (29-25). Utah was better on the clear, converting on 21 of its 22 attempts while stopping the Cavaliers on four of their tries. Both teams caused 11 turnovers. The biggest difference in the contest came on the faceoff, where Utah won only nine of 31 tries.

GAME LEADERS
Luke McNamara led the Utah offensive attack with five points on four goals and an assist while Will Overly set a new career high with four scores. Ryan Stines scored once, pushing his career point total to 217 to claim sole possession of the Utah program record.

The new standard.

Ryan Stines now holds the program record for career points. Congratulations 6????#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/QVwf9oSXPE
— Utah Lacrosse (@UtahLacrosse) March 21, 2026

Zachary White did not score for the first time since February, but he led the Utes with a career-high four helpers.

Ryan Sheppard led the Utah defense with three caused turnovers while Nikko DiPonio caused a pair himself to go with eight ground balls. Colin Lenskold spent the entirety of the game in goal – the first time he has done so since the Denver game last month – and logged a season-best 13 saves. The senior also caused a turnover and collected a career-high eight ground balls.

FIRST QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Virginia got on the board first but Lenskold was able to make three strong saves in the opening five minutes to keep the Cavalier's offense at bay.

Lockdown Lenskold with the stop on the break!

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— Utah Lacrosse (@UtahLacrosse) March 21, 2026

Utah would answer back with three goals of its own to take a 3-1 lead after the first 15 minutes. Some picturesque passing on the break led to Utah's first score, capped by McNamara after an assist from White. Ninety seconds later, Stines broke free from his defender at X and scored a diving backhand goal, giving the Utes the lead and logging his program-record 217th point.

The record breaker.#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/6PJth8I5Hy
— Utah Lacrosse (@UtahLacrosse) March 21, 2026

Jordan Reed capped the first quarter scoring with his first of the day, capitalizing off a find from Karson Sparks.

SECOND QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Virginia got on the board less than a minute into the second, but Overly answered right back with a shot from an impossible angle off the second assist of the day from White.

He doesn't need much space.

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— Utah Lacrosse (@UtahLacrosse) March 21, 2026

The Cavaliers ended the quarter on a three-goal scoring streak, sending the Utes to the locker room down, 5-4.

THIRD QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Offense took over to start the second half. McNamara scored his 32nd of the season to start the third quarter, but Virginia answered back with a goal of its own. Karson Sparks found paydirt off a find from White, but the home side answered back seconds later.

Fire us up 9????

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— Utah Lacrosse (@UtahLacrosse) March 21, 2026

Overly scored for the second time to level the game at 7-7. Virginia once again answered quickly, scoring 10 seconds later to launch a four-goal scoring run to take a 11-7 lead. McNamara capped his sixth hat trick of the season with 6:43 remaining off a find from Nathan Chalmers.

There's nobody better in a man-up situation??

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— Utah Lacrosse (@UtahLacrosse) March 21, 2026

Virginia would score one more before time ran out in the frame to take a 12-8 lead into the fourth.

FOURTH QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Will Overly capped his second hat trick of the season early with a missile in the fourth after Virginia scored to open the frame.

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— Utah Lacrosse (@UtahLacrosse) March 21, 2026

The home side would score twice more to push the lead to six, but McNamara and Overly continued to push Utah's offensive attack. McNamara struck off a feed from White and then the sophomore set up Overly for his fourth of the day to put Utah back within four, but a late goal by Virginia cut off any comeback opportunity.

UP NEXT
The Utes return to Salt LAX City and will open up ASUN Conference play on Saturday, March 28, when Utah takes on Bellarmine at Ute Field. Admission is free for all fans.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can follow along on social media (X: @UTAHLacrosse | Instagram: @utahlacrosse), and the official mobile app of Utah Athletics, Utah360 -- download here.