UVa women honor fallen teammate with victory

Slain University of Virginia lacrosse player Yeardley Love’s mother and sister cheered as Love’s teammates defeated Towson University on Sunday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Love, a 22-year-old government major at UVa, was killed in early May. George Huguely, a member of the men’s lacrosse team and Love’s ex-boyfriend, has been charged with first-degree murder in her death.

Love’s family — mother Sharon and sister Lexie — sat with UVa President John T. Casteen III as they watched Sunday’s game from the stands of Klockner Stadium.
Late in the second half, UVa and Towson were tied. Love’s family walked down to the sidelines. UVa’s players and coaches noticed their presence, they said later, and were energized to win.
“I felt like suddenly we were going to be OK,” said Julie Myers, UVa’s women’s lacrosse head coach.
Virginia went to rally in the game’s final four minutes, ultimately edging out Towson, 14-12.
Moments after they won, the team members gathered together in the center of the field, turned to the crowd and held up signs with Love’s jersey number, 1, on them.

On the sidelines, Love’s mother and sister hugged UVa’s players and coaches. One coach gave Love’s mother a ball from the game, the team’s first since Love’s death.
“[Love’s mother] told us she wouldn’t have missed [the game] for the world,” said Kaitlin Duff, one of Love’s teammates of the past four years.
Love’s mother — who declined to speak with the media — wore a UVa ribbon with angel wings on her blouse.
Signs of Love could be found everywhere in Klockner Stadium on Sunday.
Each of the players on UVa’s squad wore a black oval patch over their hearts that said “LOVE.”
Many of UVa’s players on the sidelines wore dark blue T-shirts that said on the back: “One Team, One Heart, One Love.”

Towson players wore orange armbands with Love’s initials on them.
More than a few Towson fans wore ribbons with UVa’s orange and blue colors.
“We wanted to come out and support our team but also show respect to Yeardley,” said Mike Capucci of Ellicott City, Md.
Just before the game began, a moment of silence was held for Love. Her picture appeared on the stadium’s Jumbotron, reading: “Yeardley Love, 1987-2010.”
A sign in the stands read:
“Virginia is
No. 1 Yeardley
in Our Hearts.”
Another on the stadium’s grassy field said: “1-2-3-4 Together Hoos,” a reference to a cheer Myers recalled at Love’s funeral. The team’s traditional pre-game cheer is “1-2-3 together Hoos.” Once, however, Love led the cheer and counted to four. From now on, Myers said, the team will always count to four in Love’s memory.

As fans entered the stadium, they were greeted by a mix of pop music picked out by two of Love’s teammates. One of the songs was Cher’s “Believe,” in which the chorus is: “Do you believe in life after love?”
Caity Whiteley, who was Love’s roommate and teammate, said she and the rest of the UVa women’s lacrosse team wanted to win for Love.
“I wanted to play especially well, just to honor her,” she said.
Whiteley and the other players said they have been relying on each another as they mourn the loss of Love while also playing in the NCAA tournament.
“For me, it’s been really hard,” Whiteley said. “I don’t know where I’d be without my team and all my close friends.”

Sandy McCulloch, whose daughter Ashley played alongside Love on UVa’s lacrosse team until her graduation last year, drove down from Fairfax to cheer on the team.
“It’s tough times. It’s emotional. Even without the tragedy, the playoffs are a tough time,” she said. “But they’re a cohesive unit. They’re closer than your typical team. They’re like sisters. They’ll pull together. They want to win it all for Yeardley.”
Ray Kolarik, father of first-year UVa player Kim Kolarik, was one of many lacrosse parents who wore a circular patch with a heart and a No. 1.
“They’re playing for Yeardley,” he said. “Their desire is to come out and play the best they can. They’re definitely playing for Yeardley.”