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March 5, 1998

IN ITS LAST GAME, UVa(1-1, 0-0 ACC) played Mercyhurst (won 17-2 ) March 3 in the 1998 second game . Princeton opened its season last Saturday with a 17-10 victory at Johns Hopkins.

IN THE SERIES, UVa trails the now 1-0 Tigers 7-4, including 3-1 over UVA at Charlottesville. The Cavaliers played and won last at home(12-9 in 1996).

IN THE NEXT GAME, UVa plays Penn(March 11, at 3:00 PM at either UVa’s Turf Field or Klockner Stadium). Princeton next plays at North Carolina March 17.

THE COACH. UVa’s head coach Dom Starsia heads into his sixth season, and he hails from Brown University, where he had coached for ten years. He now has a 160-66(70.8%) career record, including 59-20(74.7%) at UVa. Ironically, his first college foe as a head coach here was a team whose name began with the letter V–Virginia(a 10-6 Brown loss at Hofstra), and his first game at UVa was against another V-team, Villanova(21-6 win). Starsia is 19-17 vs. the ACC(1-6 vs. UVa, 7-2 vs. Duke, 6-5 vs. UNC, and 5-4 vs. Maryland). He is 6-5 vs. the Ivy League since coming to UVa(2-5 vs. Princeton, 2-0 vs. Brown,1-0 vs. Harvard, and 1-0 vs. Penn). Starsia is twice a winner of the Morris Touchstone award(Division I Coach of the Year, 1985 and 1991). His 100th win came in 1992, when his Bruins topped Cornell to wrap up an NCAA bid. His Brown teams were Ivy League champions twice(1985 and 1991) and went to the NCAA’s four of his last six seasons(he is 9-10 overall in NCAA play). He has a 48-23 record vs. Ivy league teams, including 6-5 while at UVa. He had never played lacrosse prior to attending Brown. In 1992, Starsia was honored by the Rhode Island Organization of Sportswriters and Sportscasters with the Frank Lanning Award(lifetime achievement of overall contribution to the Rhode Island sports community).

Starsia was named ACC co-Coach of the year for 1995, and he was picked as the 1997 ACC Coach of the Year. Four of his five UVa squads have finished the regular season in first place in the ACC. Starsia is 6-7 vs. Princeton coach Bill Tierney.

RANKINGS: The pre-season polls put UVa in third behind Syracuse(second) and Princeton(first) which is a consensus number one in the pre-season. In last year’s final poll, Princeton was top-ranked, UVa was second, and Syracuse was third.

UVA vs. NUMBER ONE: UVa has often played the number one ranked team in the ratings. Syracuse March 2 in 1996 was number one(as was Princeton in the 1996 finals–May 27). The last number one team that UVa played was in a 14-13 loss to Princeton on March 8, 1997(and prior to 1996 it was in 1995(Syracuse on March 14, 1995, when UVA won at Syracuse 15-7). The last time a number one team played UVA at home was UNC in 1993, April 10, when UVa rallied from a four-goal deficit to beat the top-ranked Tar Heels on April 10, 1993, 13-12 on a Kevin Pehlke goal 1:13 in overtime at Scott Stadium. Princeton was ranked number one before the finals in 1996. Princeton was ranked first in 1997 when the Cavaliers played the Tigers.

UVA AS NUMBER ONE: UVa has been number one on a number of occasions, the last of which was much of March in 1996(March 23, after the Johns Hopkins game) . In 1996, UVa defended its top spot with a 12-9 win over Princeton, followed by a 16-15 overtime win at Hofstra with Brown and a 15-9 win over UMass. Plus JHU, 14-9, then Radford 23-3, and then lost it after bowing to Maryland(13-11 loss, March 30, 1996).

THE STARTING LINEUP the pre-season looks like the following(scoring to date)— Drew McKnight(2+4=6, now injured, questionable), Jay Jalbert(5+4=9), and Tucker Radebaugh(7+6=13) on attack; David Wren(4+0=4), Drew Melchionni(6+0=6), and Hanley Holcomb(Salisbury School, and Ridgewood, NJ) on midfield; and Penn Leachman(0 ), Ryan Curtis(0, now injured, doubtful), and John Harvey(St. George’s School, and Darien, CT, ill, Michael Leahy replaced him). The goalie should be Chris Sanderson(24 saves and 19 goals allowed). The faceoff man used the most often should be Jason Hard(26 of 50. 52%). Peter Ragosa(2nd, Deerfield Academy and Milton, MA) is the first long stick defender on the field). Holcomb missed the Syracuse game due to illness. Curtis and McKnight may have to miss today’s game with injuries. Michael Leahy(1-1+ in 1997) started in Holcomb’s place.

For 1998 NEW FACES, watch for John Harvey(D, St. George’s School and Darien, CT); Hanley Holcomb(M, Salisbury School and Ridgewood, NJ); David Jenkins(M, Taft School and Dedham, MA); James Kenny(M, Garden City HS and Garden City, NY); Evan Mancini(M, Hotchkiss School and Gulph Mills, PA); Jamison Mullen(A, St. Mary’s HS and Annapolis, MD); Ian Shure(A, Boy’s Latin School and Lutherville, MD); and Aaron Vercollonne(M, Boy’s Latin School and Lutherville, MD). There will also be a transfer from Tufts(with three years of eligibility remaining): Court Weisleder(D, the Taft School via Tufts, and Bay Head, NJ).

SEASON OPENERS had been solidly UVa until 1997. UVa had won its previous 14 season openers, before losing at Syracuse 22-21 in February of 1997. UVa has won 15 of its last 17 home openers (Princeton,1994, 14-6 loss; and Syracuse in 1998).

Where HOME WAS A BIT OF HEAVEN for UVa in 1993(9-0 at home), UVa only posted a 4-3 mark at home in 1994. In 1993 UVa was 1-5 on the road. BUT, in 1994, the reverse was true. UVa played ten games away from home and won nine of them. UVa had not done anything like that since 1952(that year, UVa won its first national championship). In 1994, UVa was 4-3 at home and 9-1 away from Charlottesville. In 1995, UVa won all eight home games. UVa had won 15 straight games at home(UNC, ACC finals in 1994, 15-7). UVa finished with a 6-1 home record in 1996. UVa finished 7-0 at home in 1997(also the current home win string. Starsia is 34-4 at home at UVa(Princeton, Duke, North Carolina twice).

In 1997 NCAA FINAL STATS: UVa had some entries. Doug Knight was fifth in points per game(5.14), 23rd in goals per game(2.79),and eighth in assists per game(2.38). Michael Watson was 19th in points per game(4.43) and 14th in assists per game(2.14). Goalie Chris Sanderson was 28th in save %(55.3%) and 18th in goals against average(10.26). The team was first in scoring offense(18.21), 14th in scoring defense(9.71), and first in scoring margin(8.50).

In FINAL 1997 ACC STATISTICS: UVa had players ranked as follows: Doug Knight was first in scoring per game(5.14), second in goals per game(2.79), and first in assists per game(2.38). Michael Watson was second in points per game(4.43), fourth in goals per game(2.29), and fourth in assists per game(2.14). David Curry was third in goals per game(2.36). Chris Sanderson is fourth in save %(55.3%) and second in goals/against average(10.26). As a team, UVa is first in scoring(18.21), second in scoring defense(9.71), and first in scoring margin(8.5)

SCORING in each of the last four seasons is up. In 1994 five games saw UVa offense at or over the 20-goal mark, a UVa record. The team figure of 255 goals in 1997 had not previously been topped(1972, 213 was the old mark). The per-game average was 15 goals per game, and the UVa mark was 16.1(1982). UVa averaged 17.5 goals per game in 1995(another school mark and the top figure in Division I in the NCAA). In 1994, UVa scored 51 goals 30 seconds or less following a faceoff. In 1995, UVa scored 57 goals in the first 30 seconds following faceoffs. In 1996, UVa scored 42 goals in the first 30 seconds after faceoffs. And in 1997, UVa scored 34 goals within 30 seconds of a faceoff.

In 1996, UVa had runs of 5, 5, 5 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9 10, 10, 11,11, and 22(vs. Radford). In 1997, UVa had runs of 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 8, 9, 9, 9, 12, 13, and 16(Mercyhurst and Bucknell). The consecutive goals scored record is 24 vs. Radford in 1995. In 1998, UVa has scored five in under 30 second goal situations and has a run of 12 straight scores(Mercyhurst). UVa opened its 1995 and 1996 seasons with two straight 20-goal games, a school record. UVa scored more than 20 goals in five games in 1995 and 1997, which tied the school mark(1994). UVa did not score fewer than 10 goals in a game in 1995 or 1996(a record). UVa’s 273 goals in 1996 was a new team mark. UVA had a school-record string of 44 straight games having scored 10 or more goals in a game snapped by Maryland in the NCAA quarterfinals in 1997. It was the longest such streak in ACC history. The string began in 1995, with the season-opener with Navy 24-13. During that string, UVa exceeded 10 goals 44 times, topped 20 goals 14 times, and surpassed the 30 goal mark three times(including the school mark of 38, set vs. VMI in 1996). UVa has scored 20 goals in a game 63 times(including 21 times under Starsia).

UVa’s 1997 average of 18.21 goals per game and scoring margin of 8.50 goals per game were not only school records but also NCAA leading marks for 1997..

MORE FIRSTS: UVa played its first men’s lacrosse games under the Klockner lights in 1996. The first time was a 14-9 win over Johns Hopkins. UVa has frequently played night games at home, but this was the first such occasion at Klockner. UVa’s 23 goals vs. Harvard tied UVa for the NCAA highest score in that NCAA round(eight). The 16 goals vs. JHU in 1997 tied a UVa mark in the JHU series (1996). UVa scored nine straight goals vs. JHU. It was UVa’s third straight win over the Blue Jays. It was UVa’s first win against JHU in Baltimore since 1988. It was UVA’s second straight win at Homewood(23-12 over Harvard in 1996). UVa’s 17-14 win at Duke(first game) in 1997 was the 400th for the program(64th season, 400-268-6, 59.8%)(now 403-269-6, 59.0%). It was UVa’s first win over UNC in ACC tournament play. It was the first ACC Tournament title for UVa. The last ACC crown for UVa was in 1986.

In ONE-GOAL GAMES, Starsia is 7-10 at UVa(17-24 overall)—-

1993   UMass.        10-9 hw        1994   Syracuse      15-14 nl ncaa  ot  1997   Syracuse   21-22 al1993   Maryland     11-10 hw  ot    1994   Princeton       8-9 nl ncaa ot   1997   Princeton   13-14 al ot   1993   No. Carolina 13-12 ot hw     1995   Maryland      12-11 hw ot        1997   Maryland   15-14 hw 2ot1993   Hofstra        5-6 al ot     1996   Brown         16-15 nw           1997   Maryland   9-10  al ncaa1993   Maryland       8-9 al acc ot 1996   No. Carolina  18-19 al           1998   Syracuse   17-18 hl ot1994   Duke           8-9 hl        1996   Princeton     12-13 nl ncaa ot

This chart also includes overtime games(Starsia is 5-6 at UVa in overtime, 1-0 in two overtimes). He is 7-10 lifetime in overtime.

RECORDS; UVa set school marks of 38 goals vs. VMI in 1996 and for record margin of victory(33, 38-5). In that game, 25 assists and 105 ground balls were records also. The 31 goals in the VMI game in 1997 is UVa’s third best of all time. The 12 goals in the first period duplicates 1996’s record of 12 in the first period of the VMI game. UVa’s 20 goals vs. UNC(1997 I)is a series high and the biggest margin in UVa ACC play.

DAVID WREN had a career day vs. Maryland(I, 1997). The fourth-year midfielder scored three times and added two assists. He was named ACC co-player of the week for those exploits. His assist set up the game-tieing goal(14-14) in the that game. He was named All ACC and All ACC Tournament for 1997. He was also named second team All American in 1997(his initial AA choice).

DREW MELCHIONNI started the 1997 season with a prolific scooping stick. He finished with 68 ground balls (10 vs. Syracuse, 7 vs. Mercyhurst, 9 vs. UMass), second on UVa midfields. His 82 ground balls tied him for the team lead in 1996 with Michael Watson. The fourth year midfielder from Garden City was an HM All American in 1996, again in 1997, and both his father and uncle played college basketball. Melchionni is the top Cavalier defensive middie. He set a career mark vs. Syracuse with four goals.

DAVID BRUCE and JAMIE LEACHMAN set personal marks in 1996 . Bruce(4+3=7) and Leachman(1+7=8) set those standards vs. VMI. Bruce had four goals vs. Mercyhurst in 1997. Bruce had 4+2=6 vs. VMI in 1997. Bruce suffered a serious knee injury in a pre-season scrimmage and may miss the entire season.

MARK MURPHY and JOSH BRADSTREET scored the first goals of their UVa careers against VMI in 1996. Each had three. Murphy added three scores vs. Mercyhurst, 1997. Murphy set personal career marks vs. VMI in 1997, 4+4=8.

JASON HARD had a record-caliber faceoff day against his hometown rivals at Syracuse in the 1997 opening game. He took 29 of 40 faceoffs. The second year middie hails from Cicero/North Syracuse High School and Bridgeport, NY. He finished the season with 176 wins and only 109 losses. He was named ACC Rookie of the Year for 1997. He was 13of 14 vs. Mercyhurst

TUCKER RADEBAUGH set a new career standard for himself with a four goal performance against UMass in 1997. He also had one assist in that game. He scored 2=2=4 in the Duke(II) game, all four points coming in the last six goals of the game. He was named Honorable Mention All American in 1997, his first AA award. He may play a lot of attack in 1998. He started on attack vs. Syracuse and notched a career high seven points(3+4=7). He scored four times vs. Mercyhurst.

DREW McKNIGHT also had a fine rookie opening day vs. Syracuse in 1997. The (now) second year attackman from Norfolk Academy notched 2+4=6 vs. the Orangemen. He duplicated those numbers against Mercyhurst. He had a personal high of three goals vs. Penn. He scored the game-winner in the second overtime of the Maryland game. He had 3+3=6 vs. Bucknell.

JAY JALBERT also put up some good numbers in the first game of his career(Syracuse, 1997). He scored four goals. Jalbert’s step-brother Steve Anderson was a Cavalier midfielder and captain in 1986-89. His career high is 3+3=6 vs. Duke(I), for which he was named ACC player of the week. He started on attack, with three goals vs. Syracuse.

GOALIE CHRIS SANDERSON started each game in 1996(and all but one–JHU–in 1997). The fourth-year goalie is the first Canadian to play for UVa since Paul French in 1984. Sanderson hails from Orangeville, Ontario. His two big games with stats in 1995 were Radford(five saves, no goals allowed) and VMI(6/0). He played in five games in 1995. Against Syracuse(in 1996) he had 10 stops and gave up 15 goals. Vs. Princeton he was 13/9. Vs. Brown he was 13/15. Against UMass he was 15/9. He set a career mark of 20 v. Maryland(I) in 1996. His best 1997 marks were (11/4) vs. JHU(second half) and 12/3(80.0% ) vs. UNC(I). He had 16 saves and gave up six goals in the Duke(II) ACC game. He was 6/1 vs. Bucknell. He received All ACC Tournament honors in 1997. His 21 saves vs. Syracuse is a career high for him.

HOME GROWN HENRY OAKEY scored with abandon in 1996 . He whistled a career high of three goals past Princeton goalies in 1996. He followed that hat trick with a four-goal effort vs. Brown. Oakey hails from Charlottesville, but he graduated(playing his final two prep seasons) from Deerfield Academy 1994. He had his first career assists vs. JHU. He had 23 goals in 1996. Although his rehabilitation(from a 1996 injury) was successful, he redshirted in 1997. He seems to be fully recovered for this Spring, scoring 2+2=4 in his first outing vs. Syracuse.

MORE HOME GROWN, second-year goalie BEN O’NEIL hails from Charlottesville, where he prepped at St. Anne’s/Belfield. He played in seven games in 1997 ( Mercyhurst, Penn, Hopkins, VMI, North Carolina(I)), and Bucknell). In his first two games he took three saves and allowed one goal. The Johns Hopkins game was his first start. His father is a former President of the University of Virginia. Red-shirt rookie WILL QUAYLE is also a local talent. The Western Albemarle grad did not play last season. He should see midfield action in 1998. His father was an AA football and lacrosse player at UVa in the 1960’s.

ALL ACC HONORS for 1997 included All ACC notice for MICHAEL WATSON(A)(fourth time), DOUG KNIGHT(A)(third time), DAVID WREN(M), DAVID CURRY(M), and TOMMY SMITH(D)(second time). All ACC Tournament honors went to KNIGHT(second time), WREN, CURRY, SMITH(second time), and CHRIS SANDERSON(G).

FURTHER ACC HONORS include player of the year(MICHAEL WATSON, A), rookie of the year(JASON HARD, M), coach of the year(DOM STARSIA, second time).

ALL AMERICAN HONORS for 1997 were (1st Team: DOUG KNIGHT(A), MICHAEL WATSON((A), and DAVID CURRY(M); 2nd Team: DAVID WREN(M); 3rd Team: TOMMY SMITH(D); and Honorable Mention: DREW MELCHIONNI(M) and TUCKER RADEBAUGH(M).

CAPTAINS for 1998 are fourth-year middie DAVID WREN and third-year attack/midfield player TUCKER RADEBAUGH.

THE STARSIA LOG:at Brown: 101-46; at Virginia 58-20                                           at Brown:     at UVa:Overall:                                101-46(.643)    59-20(.747)Ivy:                                     42-18(.700)      6-5(.545)Ivy Overall:                             42-18(.700)      6-5(.545)Virginia Schools:                          1-6(.143)      9-0(1.000)ACC:   2-9(.182)                                         17-8(.680)One-Goal  games:                         10-14(.417)     7-10(.412)In Overtime:                               2-4(.333)      5-6(.454)When Brown scores more than 10 goals:    88-13(.872)    57-11(.838)When Opponents score more than 10 goals: 21-33(.389)    24-14(.632)When Brown scores fewer than 10 goals:   13-33(.283)      2-9(.181)When both teams score more than 10 goals: 21-13(.618)   24-10(.706)When neither team  scores 10 goals:       12-13(.480)     2-5(.286)NCAA play:                                  2-5           7-5(.583)NCAA First Round:                           2-3           2-0(1.000)NCAA Quarter-finals:                        0-2           3-2(.600)NCAA Semi-finals                            0-0           2-1(.667)NCAA Finals                                 0-0           0-2(.000)At home(UVa):                                            35-5(.875)Away(UVa)                                               18-10(.643)Neutral(UVa):                                             6-5(.545)

Pronunciation Guide:
Baruch–Ba roush’
D’Urso–DUR so
Jalbert-ZJAL bear
Leachman–Leech man
Leahy–LAY hee
Mancini–man SEE nee
Melchionni–Mel KEY own ee
Quayle–Kwail
Radebaugh–RAY duh baw
Ragosa–Ra GOSS uh
Shure–sure
Vercollone–vur cuh LOAN ee
Weisleder–WISE leader
Zeller–ZELL ur
Starsia Star cee uh

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