Commending the University of Virginia Winning the 2004 NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse National Championship

COMMENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA WINNING THE 2004 NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN'S LACROSSE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I congratulate the University of Virginia Women's Lacrosse team for winning the 2004 NCAA Division I lacrosse championship with a 10-to-4 victory over the previously undefeated 2003 champion Princeton Tigers and introduce a resolution expressing the congratulations of the United States Senate to these outstanding young women.

As a University of Virginia graduate and father of a daughter who plays lacrosse in high school, I express the pride felt by all students, faculty and alumni of the University of Virginia at this tremendous accomplishment by the women's lacrosse team. Coach Julie Myers and her superb coaching staff: Colleen Shearer, Heather Dow and Kateri Linville, deserve much of the credit for the accomplishment of these student athletes and should also be highly commended.

The University of Virginia Cavaliers Women's Lacrosse team raced out to a 5 to 1 halftime lead on the strength of eight saves by tournament MVP Andrea Pfeiffer and two goals and an assist from Tyler Leachman. The University of Virginia went on to win the championship with an outstanding second half performance scoring five goals to the Princeton Tigers' three to win the 2004 NCAA women's lacrosse title 10 to 4.

In her distinguished career, Cavalier Head Coach Julie Myers has won over a hundred games and has taken her teams to the NCAA title game four times, a feat accomplished by only four other coaches in Division I history. Cavalier teams' eight consecutive invitations to the NCAA tournament have been accomplished by only four other coaches in Division I history. In addition to their 2004 National title, the women's team also won the ACC championship, one of the toughest conferences in the country.

The members of the 2004 University of Virginia's Women's Lacrosse team have indeed made Mr. Jefferson's University proud and should be applauded for their character and leadership, both on and off the playing field. I congratulate Amy Appelt, Caitlin Banks, Bridget Bradley, Kate Breslin, Laura Burns, Cary Chasney, Kim Connors, Ashley Dodson, Ashleigh Haas, Julie Hauser, Megan Havrilla, Carol Hotarek, Lauren Keller, Meredith Lazarus, Tyler Leachman, Nikki Leib, Chelsea Metz, Ginger Miles, Jessy Morgan, Erin Nagle, Andrea Pfeiffer, Elizabeth Pinney, Kaitlin Swagart, Erin Sweeney, Morgan Thalenberg, Molly Urlock, Jess Wasilewski, and Courtney Young.

Mr. President, I hope my colleagues will join with Senator WARNER and me to pass this resolution recognizing the National Champion University of Virginia Women's Lacrosse team.