Virginia’s women’s lacrosse team has three losses in 2008, and they’re only guaranteed a chance to redeem one of those defeats.

One nightmarish memory erased. One more to go. On Friday night at Klockner Stadium, Virginia — behind four goals apiece from Ben Rubeor and Garrett Billings — atoned for a dreadful loss to Maryland earlier this season with an 11-8 victory over the Terrapins.

Virginia’s players claimed they blocked any thoughts about Duke from their minds all week leading up to this weekend’s ACC Men’s Lacrosse Tournament. First, the Cavaliers had to deal with Maryland, a team that had beaten them soundly a month ago at College Park.

But facing the fifth-seeded Tar Heels, the Terrapins just about let the game slip away before holding on to win 6-4 at Scott Stadium on Friday.

It’s been a while since a Virginia men’s lacrosse team headed into the ACC Tournament as an underdog.

Virginia had to wait until Thursday’s quarterfinals to find out, but the Cavs will take on Duke in the ACC semifinals today at 3 p.m at Scott Stadium.

States worry about crabs