Virginia Cavaliers men's lacrosse

Virginia Cavaliers men's lacrosse
University University of Virginia
Conference Atlantic Coast Conference
Location Charlottesville, Virginia
Coach Lars Tiffany
Stadium Klöckner Stadium
(capacity: 8,000)
Nickname Cavaliers
Colors Navy blue and Orange[1]
         
Pre-NCAA Era Champions
1952, 1970
NCAA Tournament Champions
1972, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2011
NCAA Tournament Runner-Up
1980, 1986, 1994, 1996
NCAA Tournament Final Fours
(22) – 1972, 1973, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals
(31) – 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
NCAA Tournament Appearances
(37) – 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015
Conference Tournament Champions
1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2010
Conference Regular Season Champions
1962, 1964, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2010

The Virginia Cavaliers men's lacrosse team represents the University of Virginia in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's lacrosse. Virginia currently competes as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and plays its home games at Klöckner Stadium, or occasionally Turf Field or Scott Stadium, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

History

University records show that Virginia fielded lacrosse teams from 1904 to 1907, although no further information from that period is available.[2] After a hiatus, lacrosse returned to Charlottesville in 1925 though the team struggled in the ensuing years. Through 1932, the Cavaliers won only one game, while they lost 30 and tied four. The team was disbanded after the 1932 season and would play sporadically until lacrosse returned for good in 1947. Two years later, Virginia won more games than it lost for the first time in school history when it posted a 7–4 record. The Cavaliers then posted an 8–3 mark in 1950 and 7–2 in 1951. The following season, they recorded an identical tally and the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) named Virginia the 1952 co-national champions.[2]

Virginia lost to Johns Hopkins during UVA's most recent NCAA title season (2011)

In 1970, Virginia finished the season with an 8–2 record and the USILA again awarded them the national championship.[3] The following season, the NCAA instituted a single-elimination tournament to determine the national championship, and the Cavaliers made an appearance but were eliminated by Navy in the first round. In 1972, Virginia again secured a tournament berth, and beat in succession Army, Cortland State, and Johns Hopkins for their first NCAA national championship. In 1978, former Army coach Jim "Ace" Adams took over as head coach, and from that season onward, Virginia has been a regular participant in the NCAA tournament. Since then, the Cavaliers have never failed to qualify in two consecutive seasons. Virginia advanced to the championship game in 1980, 1986, 1994, and 1996, each time falling to the eventual champion by one goal. In 1993, Dom Starsia became head coach, leading the Cavaliers to national titles in 1999, 2003, 2006, and 2011. Since the establishment of an ACC tournament in 1989, Virginia has won the regular-season championship ten times, more than any of the other three teams in the league.[2]

Virginia's 2006 season was remarkable as the Cavaliers became the first team in NCAA history to finish the season with a 17–0 record en route to the program's third national championship in eight years. The team won its games by an average of more than eight goals per game and drew comparisons to some of the best lacrosse teams of all time.[4] The Virginia offense led the nation in scoring (15.28), while the defense ranked 10th, allowing fewer than eight goals per game. Eight Cavaliers were named All-Americans, the most in program history, and senior attackman Matt Ward received the Tewaaraton Trophy as the best player in the nation.

In 2007, Virginia posted a regular-season record of 12–3 and were ranked #3 behind ACC champion Duke and the undefeated Ivy League champion, Cornell.[5] The Cavaliers entered the NCAA tournament with a #2 seed but were upset in the opening round by unseeded Delaware 14–8,[6] marking the first time since 2004 that Virginia had failed to reach the quarterfinal round (and final four).

In the 2008 season, Virginia again posted a 12–3 regular-season record and were ranked #2 (behind Duke). They received the #2 seed in the NCAA tournament,[7] where they defeated unseeded UMBC 10–9 in the first round and 7th seeded Maryland 8–7 in overtime in the quarterfinal round before succumbing to the eventual champion, 3rd seeded Syracuse 12–11 in double overtime of the semifinal.[8]

During the 2009 season, the contest against Maryland resulted in the longest lacrosse game in college history.[9] In the first overtime, an unintentional whistle by an official negated a would-be game-winning goal by a Maryland player. Virginia eventually scored a goal to win 10–9, in the seventh overtime and preserved its then-perfect record of 11–0.[10] Virginia entered the NCAA tournament on a two-game losing streak, but then defeated Villanova 18–6 in the opening round, and Johns Hopkins 19–8 in the quarterfinal round.[11] The Cavaliers ultimately fell in the final four to Cornell.[12]

In 2010, the team won the ACC Championship, finished the regular season 14–1 and with a #1 ranking,[13] and entered the NCAA tournament with the #1 seed. The Cavaliers defeated Mount St. Mary's 18–4 in the first round and Stony Brook 10–9 in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion Duke, in the semifinals. However, the team's tournament run was to some extent overshadowed by the arrest of senior midfielder George Huguely on charges of murdering former romantic partner and Cavaliers women's lacrosse player Yeardley Love (Huguely would be convicted in 2012).

In 2011, the Cavaliers posted a 9–5 regular-season record before entering the NCAA tournament, where they defeated Bucknell, Cornell, Denver, and finally Maryland 9–7 to win their fifth NCAA championship.[14] During the tournament, head coach Dom Starsia became the all-time wins leader in Division I men's lacrosse history, breaking Jack Emmer's previous mark of 326 wins.[15] Five Cavaliers were named USILA All-Americans.[16] Following the tournament, third-year attackman Steele Stanwick won the Tewaaraton Trophy as the nation's top player.[17]

Program achievements

(Current through 2014 season)

Under former coach Dom Starsia, Virginia produced:

Annual record men's lacrosse

YearWinsLossesPercentConferencePlayoffsNational RankRPISOSPower Rating (1)
2014106.6206thNCAA 1st Round (2) 79412
201378.4704th--122417
2012124.7501stNCAA Quarterfinals (3) 8866
2011135.7202ndNCAA National Title (4) 1213
2010162.8901stNCAA Semifinals (5) 1121
2009153.8302ndNCAA Semifinals (6) 52103
2008144.7802ndNCAA Semifinals (7) 2246
2007144.7802ndNCAA Semifinals (8) 32128
20061701.0001stNCAA National Title (9) 1281
(1) Laxpower Power Rating[18]
(2) Lost NCAA 1st round 14–8 to Johns Hopkins.
(3) Won NCAA 1st round 6–5 over Princeton. Lost quarterfinal 12–10 to Notre Dame.
(4) Won NCAA 1st round 13–12 over Bucknell. Won quarterfinal 13–9 over Cornell. Won semifinal 14–8 over Denver.
Defeated Maryland in NCAA Finals 9–7 to win National Title.
(5) Won NCAA 1st round 18–4 over Mount Saint Mary's. Won quarterfinal 10–9 over Stony Brook. Lost semifinal 14–13 to Duke.
(6) Won NCAA 1st round 18–6 over Villanova. Won quarterfinal 19–8 over Johns Hopkins. Lost semifinal 15–6 to Cornell.
(7) Won NCAA 1st round 10–9 over UMBC. Won quarterfinal 8–7 over Maryland. Lost semifinal 12–11 to Syracuse.
(8) Won NCAA 1st round 14–8 over Johns Hopkins.
(9) Won NCAA 1st round 13–12 over Bucknell. Won quarterfinal 13–9 over Cornell. Won semifinal 17–10 over Syracuse.
Defeated Massachusetts in NCAA Finals 15–7 to win National Title.

References

  1. ↑ "Graphic Standards – University of Virginia". The Graphic Identity for the University of Virginia. 2015-03-14. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
  2. 1 2 3 Virginia Men's Lacrosse Media Guide, University of Virginia.
  3. ↑ Since 1971, the annual NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament has determined the national champion in lacrosse. Prior to that, from 1934 through 1970 (the pre-NCAA era), the national champion was determined by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA), who would award the Wingate Memorial Trophy to the top team, based on regular-season records. The Wingate Memorial Trophy was presented to the first two NCAA champions (1971 and 1972) and was then retired. See also: NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship (1971– ) and Wingate Memorial Trophy (1934–1970).
  4. ↑ In Final, Virginia Lacrosse Team Has Eye on Victory and Legacy, The New York Times, May 29, 2006.
  5. ↑ USILA Coaches Poll, LaxPower, May 7, 2007.
  6. ↑ Delaware Rolls to 14–8 Win over Virginia in First Round of NCAA Tournament, VirginiaSports.com, May 13, 2007.
  7. ↑ USILA Coaches Poll, LaxPower, May 5, 2008.
  8. ↑ Cavaliers Fall to Duke in ACC Title Game 11–9, VirginiaSports.com, May 24, 2008.
  9. ↑ Virginia Tops Maryland in Longest Game, The New York Times, March 29, 2009.
  10. ↑ Virginia outlasts Maryland in 7 overtimes, USA Today, March 29, 2009.
  11. ↑ Virginia Men Pummel Jays, The Washington Post, May 17, 2009.
  12. ↑ Cornell Upsets Virginia Lacrosse in National Semi, WHSV-TV, ABC, May 25, 2009.
  13. ↑ USILA Coaches Poll, LaxPower, May 10, 2010.
  14. ↑ While Virginia Celebrates Another Title, Relief Combines With Elation, New York Times, May 30, 2011.
  15. ↑ Starsia Breaks Wins Record as Virginia is Baltimore Bound, VirginiaSports.com, May 21, 2011.
  16. ↑ Stanwick Headlines UVa's Five USILA All-American Selections, VirginiaSports.com, May 26, 2011.
  17. ↑ Stanwick Takes Home College Lacrosse's Top Honor – The Tewaaraton Trophy, VirginiaSports.com, June 2, 2011.
  18. ↑ http://www.laxpower.com/update14/binmen/rating01.php
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