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March 17, 2000
#2 Virginia Cavaliers (2-1) at Stony Brook Seawolves (0-3)
March 18, 2000 – 1:00 p.m.
Seawolves Field – Stony Brook, N.Y.
Game Info
Virginia’s road trip continues for a second straight game as the Cavalierstravel to Long Island to face Stony Brook. The opening faceoff is scheduledfor 1:00 p.m. The game will be played at Seawolves Field in Stony Brook.The Cavaliers won their opening road game of the season last Tuesday-a 17-8win at Rutgers.
UVa, currently ranked second in the polls, is now 2-1, while Stony Brook is0-3. The Seawolves have played all of their games at home so far thisseason.
The Series vs. the Seawolves
Virginia gained a 24-3 win over Stony Brook in Charlottesville last seasonin the only meeting between the two schools.
Jay Jalbert led Virginia in scoring with four goals, while Drew McKnightand Tucker Radebaugh scored three goals each. Radebaugh added five assiststo finish with an eight-point day for the Cavaliers. All told 14 differentCavaliers scored at least once. The defense also starred in the contest,holding the Seawolves scoreless the final 35 minutes of the game. TheCavalier defenders also limited Stony Brook to just 13 shots for the game.
Cavaliers Return to Long Island
This is Virginia’s first trip to Long Island in two years. The last tripwasn’t very pleasurable for the Cavaliers as they dropped a 17-14 decisionto Syracuse in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament at Hofstra.Overall, however, Virginia has found that its trips to Long Island havebeen good ones throughout the years. The Cavaliers have a 15-4 all-timerecord on Long Island.
To be fair, most of Virginia’s games on the island have come againstHofstra. The Cavaliers are 9-3 all-time against the Flying Dutchmen on LongIsland.
Virginia has also played six games against other teams at Hofstra, postinga 5-1 record.
The Cavaliers have played one game at Manhasset High School (an 11-9 winover Hobart in 1987).
This is Virginia’s first game in Suffolk County.
Starting Lineup Settling In
Virginia’s roster this season features seven returning starters and 21other lettermen from last season to give head coach Dom Starsia and hisstaff the luxury of not having to do too much tinkering to settle on astarting 10.
Returning on attack are Drew McKnight and Conor Gill. McKnight, a senior,has been a mainstay in the lineup since his arrival three years ago. Gillproved himself last year by winning the ACC Rookie of the Year Award andbeing named the MVP of the NCAA Tournament. Joining them on attack issophomore Ian Shure. Shure missed all of last season due to a knee injury,but has returned to full strength with five goals so far this season. He isa gifted offensive player who saw limited action as a freshman in 1998.
Jay Jalbert returns to anchor what is a very deep midfield this season.Faceoff specialist Jason Hard and highly regarded freshman A.J. Shannonjoin Jalbert on the first unit. Fifth-year player David Bruce, a convertedattackman, and junior Hanley Holcomb (currently out with an injury) formthe nucleus of the second unit. Freshman Chris Rotelli rounds out thisgroup. The third midfield consists of Jamison Mullen, Will Quayle and AaronVercollone. David Jenkins, Brenndan Mohler and Nick Russo also see plentyof action in the midfield, primarily in defensive midfield roles.
Hard and d Jenkins continue to alternate as faceoff specialists, whilePeter Ragosa is the top long stick middie once again. Richard Reid and TreyWhitty will also see time at long stick middie.
All three starting defensemen from the end of last season return. RyanCurtis, the nation’s top defensemen, headlines the returnees. He is joinedin the starting trio by Mark Koontz and Court Weisleder. John Harvey is thetop sub, but freshmen Ned Bowen and David Burman figure to see actionduring the season.
Derek Kenney returns in goal after starting last season as a freshman. Hewill be backed up by local product Ben O’Neil again this season.
Gill Named ACC Player of the Week
Sophomore attackman Conor Gill was tabbed the Atlantic Coast ConferencePlayer of the Week for his role in leading UVa to a come-from-behind 15-8victory over then second-ranked Princeton last Saturday.
Virginia fell behind the Tigers 3-1 midway through the first quarter beforeputting together a seven-goal barrage to claim the win. The Lutherville,Md., was the catalyst for the rally, as he had a hand in five of the seventallies, scoring two of his own, while assisting on three others. His goalat the 13:16 mark of the second quarter broke a 4-4 tie and gave UVa a leadthat it would never relinquish. Gill finished with two goals and fourassists in the game.
Virginia Shakes Off Doldrums to Down Rutgers
The sluggish starts continued for Virginia, but the Cavaliers were able toregroup in a hurry and post a 17-8 win over Rutgers on Tuesday. It was thefirst road game of the season for Virginia.
Rutgers scored first less than four minutes into the contest, but theCavaliers quickly answered to take a 4-2 lead. The homestanding ScarletKnights knotted the score at four early in the second quarter before theCavaliers turned up their offensive intensity, out-scoring Rutgers 6-1 therest of the quarter to take a commanding 10-5 lead into the locker room athalftime.
UVa then opened the third quarter with a five-goal run to push the lead to15-5.
Drew McKnight paced the attack with three goals and four assists, while IanShure added three goals. Conor Gill chipped in with a goal and two assists.
Cavaliers Trounce Princeton Last Saturday for First Win
David Bruce scored three goals and Conor Gill two to spark a five-goalVirginia run that propelled the third-ranked Cavaliers to a 15-8 win oversecond-ranked Princeton last Saturday afternoon at UVa’s Kl?ckner Stadium.
The visiting Tigers opened an early 4-2 lead midway through the firstquarter before the Cavalier attack got going. Gill scored with 4:34 left inthe opening quarter to cut Princeton’s lead to 4-3. Bruce tied the score atfour 28 seconds later by knocking in a loose ball in front of the goal.
Gill put the Cavaliers in the lead for good early in the second quarterwith his second goal of the afternoon as he beat goalie Trevor Tierney witha shot in close.
Bruce scored twice in a span of 36 seconds to give the Cavaliers a 7-4 leaden route to a 7-5 lead at halftime.
The Cavaliers extended their lead to as many as seven goals (13-6) with asix-goal third quarter. Virginia’s faceoff duo of Jason Hard and DavidJenkins won eight of 10 faceoffs during the period to give UVa good scoringopportunities.
Bruce and Drew McKnight paced the Cavaliers with three goals apiece. Gill,Jalbert and Jenkins added two goals each. Gill, the quarterback of theVirginia attack, contributed four assists, while McKnight added three.Goalie Derek Kenney went the whole way for Virginia, registering 11 saves.Virginia’s defense played aggressively throughout the game and gave up onlyfour goals in the last 50 minutes of the game.
The game marked the first time since 1995 that Princeton allowed as many as15 goals in one game. It was also Princeton’s worst margin of defeat sincean 11-4 loss to UVa in 1995.
Bruce Records Hat Tricks in First Two
When David Bruce decided to return for his fifth year this season he wasn’tsure what his role would be for head coach Dom Starsia. He missed all ofthe 1998 campaign due to a knee injury and played on the second attack unitlast season. With Drew McKnight, Conor Gill and Ian Shure penciled into thestarting attack this season, Bruce volunteered to move to the midfielddespite never having played there in college before, to get more time.
Whatever Bruce lacked for experience in the midfield, he makes up for withexperience. And he’s put his experience to good use so far this youngseason.
Finding himself in the right place at the right time, Bruce hascapitalized on virtually all of his scoring chances so far this season.In the season opening loss to Syracuse, Bruce scored three times, with allthree scores coming from point-blank range.
Bruce’s scoring parade continued in last Saturday’s win over Princeton ashe scored three times for the second game in a row. All three goals came injust over a nine-minute span in the middle of the first half and helpederase an early deficit.
His multi-goal games continued last Tuesday against Rutgers when he foundthe back of the nets twice to raise his season total to eight goals.He is tied with Drew McKnight for the team lead with eight goals so farthis season.
With eight goals, Bruce is setting his sights on setting a career high. Hescored a career high 11 goals in 1997. He has also topped last season’stotal of six.
Virginia Wins Away From Home
The Cavaliers play their second game away from home this afternoon againstStony Brook. Over the last two years they have established themselves to bea very good team when playing on the road. Going back to last seasonVirginia has won seven consecutive games at road or neutral sites (two roadgames, five neutral site games).
That is Virginia’s longest winning streak in games away fromCharlottesville since the 1994 squad won a school-record nine games at roador neutral sites.
A win over Stony Brook today would tie an eight-game winning streak awayfrom home accomplished by the Cavaliers from 1972-73 as the second-longeststreak of this kind in school history.
Virginia Falls Behind Early This Season
One of Virginia’s problems early this season has been a tendency to startsluggishly. As a result the Cavaliers have found themselves behind in theearly parts of every game so far.
In the season opener two weeks ago against Syracuse, the Cavaliers dugthemselves a first quarter hole, falling behind 5-2 after the first 15minutes. They fought valiantly to come back and tied the score in the thirdquarter before trading goals the rest of the way as the contest went intoovertime. The Virginia comeback proved not enough as the Orangemen won inovertime.
Last Saturday’s win over Princeton, the Cavaliers again dug themselves anearly hole, giving up three goals in less than four minutes of play. Butled by David Bruce and Conor Gill, who scored every goal in a five-goalrun, the Cavaliers erased a 4-2 deficit to take the lead for good with justunder 10 minutes to go in the first half. Princeton managed to close towithin 7-5 at the half, but the Cavaliers rattled off four quick thirdquarter scores to build a cushion for the rest of the way.
Rutgers scored first less than four minutes into Tuesday’s game, but theCavaliers quickly answered to take a 4-2 lead. The homestanding ScarletKnights knotted the score at four early in the second quarter before theCavaliers out-scored Rutgers 6-1 to take a commanding 10-5 lead into thelocker room at halftime. UVa won 17-8.
Defense Stiffens in Second Half
Virginia has found itself in two tight contests at halftime so far thisseason, leading once (Princeton) and trailing once (Syracuse).
The Cavaliers fell behind to Syracuse 9-5 in the season opener and thenblanked the Orangemen in the third quarter. The shutout that period enabledVirginia to claw its way back into the contest, eventually knotting thescore and forcing overtime.
UVa got off to a slow start offensively (and defensively) in the Princetongame last Saturday, falling behind 4-2 after 15 minutes of play. ButVirginia used an 11-2 run in the second and third periods to build a 13-6lead at one point. Entering the fourth quarter with a 13-8 lead, theCavalier defense pitched a shutout in the fourth quarter and handed theTigers their first loss of the season.
Virginia held a 10-5 lead at halftime against Rutgers on Tuesday and used athird quarter shutout of the Scarlet Knights to push the lead to doubledigits.
All told Virginia has allowed three goals in the third quarter, six in thefourth and one in overtime for a total of 10 second half goals.
Eleven Cavaliers Earn Preseason Recognition
Virginia’s roster this season features 11 players who have been named tovarious preseason All-America squads.
Defenseman Ryan Curtis, last season’s Schmeisser Cup winner as the nation’stop defenseman, returns to anchor the Cavalier defense. Lacrosse magazinelisted him as its Player of the Year and one of five “Players to Watch”this spring. Curtis has also been named to preseason All-America teams byFace-off, Inside Lacrosse, College Lacrosse USA and the Baltimore Sun.Joining Curtis as a Lacrosse magazine “Player to Watch” is midfield JayJalbert, winner of the 1999 McLaughlin Award as the nation’s outstandingmidfielder. And like Curtis, Jalbert has cited by Face-off, InsideLacrosse, College Lacrosse USA and the Baltimore Sun as a preseasonAll-America.
Two of UVa’s starting attackmen-senior Drew McKnight and sophomore ConorGill-have been selected preseason All-Americans. McKnight, the Cavaliers’leading active scorer (74g, 75a), was also named one of nine”Sharpshooters” by Inside Lacrosse magazine. Gill, the ACC Rookie of theYear and MVP of the NCAA Tournament a year ago, will be looked upon toquarterback the attack again this season.
Junior Hanley Holcomb joins Jalbert in the midfield to give head coach DomStarsia two preseason All-Americans on the first unit. Holcomb, whopossesses one of the hardest shots in the nation, found the back of the net27 times last season.
Long stick middie Peter Ragosa, one of the nation’s most underratedplayers, has been cited by Inside Lacrosse, College Lacrosse USA andFace-off for preseason recognition.
The Virginia face-off duo of Jason Hard and David Jenkins were bothrecognized for their face-off ability by the preseason pickers. Both werealso among 11 of the nation’s top face-off specialists selected by InsideLacrosse.
Defensively, junior John Harvey and sophomore Mark Koontz were named to thepreseason squad presented by Inside Lacrosse. Koontz was also named toFace-off’s preseason squad.
Goalie Derek Kenney, who last year became the first freshman to start ingoal for the Cavaliers in 20 years, has also been named to severalpreseason All-America squads.
Avoiding the “Sophomore Slump”
Attackman Conor Gill came to UVa with the reputation as being a giftedoffensive player and he lived up to his billing as UVa captured lastseason’s national title.
For the season he finished with 22 goals and 30 assists for a total of 52points and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year.Saving his best for the biggest stage in the college game, Gill turned theNCAA Tournament in College Park, Md., into his own personal show. He scoredfive goals in the first quarter to lead the Cavaliers to a 16-11 win overJohns Hopkins in the semifinals. He then scored UVa’s 11th goal andassisted on the 12th in the national championship game vs. Syracuse as UVagained a 12-10 win. For his play he was named the MVP of the title game andto the NCAA All-Tournament squad.
Given all that he did last year, one accomplishment he will certainly lookto keep off his resume is the dreaded “sophomore slump.”
That looks to be a difficult task considering his 30 assists tied Army’sTim Pearson for the national lead among rookies, while he tied for third inpoints (52) by a freshman last season. He also finished fourth among thenation’s rookies in scoring, averaging 3.25 points per game, and eighthwith 22 goals.
Gill registered just one goal against Syracuse in the first game of thisseason, but broke out with a big performance last Saturday againstPrinceton with two goals and four assists. His play in the win overPrinceton earned him ACC Player of the Week honors.
He scored once and recorded two assists in Tuesday’s win over Rutgers.Gill is second on the team this season with 10 points (4g, 6a).
Shure Returns With Big Game
Given his limited experience, red-shirt sophomore Ian Shure can almost beconsidered a freshman this season. He played sparingly two years ago as atrue freshman, appearing in just six games and scoring two goals. Then hemissed all of last season due to a severe knee injury that requiredsurgery.
But he has worked hard to return to action and his efforts seem to havepaid off.
He scored twice in the opener against Syracuse to equal his goal total ofhis freshman season two years ago.
Shure posted the first hat trick of his career with his three-goal effortvs. Rutgers earlier this week, including the goal that proved to be thegame-winner for UVa.
He is third on the team with five goals so far this season. He has alsoadded one assist.
Five Seniors Named Co-captains
Five members of Virginia’s senior class this season have been namedcaptains for the 2000 season-Ryan Curtis, Jason Hard, Jay Jalbert, DrewMcKnight and Peter Ragosa.
Curtis and Jalbert were recipients of prestigious national awards lastseason for their play as the Cavaliers won the national title. Curtis wonthe Schmeisser Cup as the nation’s top defenseman, while Jalbert wasawarded the McLaughlin Award as the nation’s outstanding midfielder.
Hard teams with David Jenkins to give Virginia the top face-off unit in thecountry. Hard finished sixth in the nation in face-off winning percentage.This is the second year in a row McKnight has served as a team captain. Oneof the more overlooked members of the nation’s most potent offense,McKnight is poised to break into the top 10 in career scoring at Virginia.He currently is 11th in school history with 149 points (74g, 75a) and needsjust 11 points to crack the top 10.
Ragosa, considered by many as the nation’s top long stick middie, hashelped spearhead Virginia’s defensive efforts throughout his career. He wastied for 46th in the nation a year ago in ground balls, averaging 4.4 pergame (70 in 16 games).
Jalbert Looks to Overcome Slow Starts
Senior midfielder Jay Jalbert has been UVa’s offensive MVP in each of thelast two years. But a curious thing happened to the way to winning the teamaward. He got off to very slow starts in 1998 and 1999. And after justthree games this season it looks like the trend might continue.
Two years ago, playing on the attack, Jalbert scored 11 goals in theseason’s first six games as the Cavaliers got off to a 3-3 start. He scoreda career-high five goals in a win over North Carolina in the seventh gameto start a stretch in which he scored 23 goals in the season’s final sevengames. Virginia was 6-1 during that span.
Last season he moved back to the midfield and seemed to take some timegetting into the flow of the offense. Through the first seven games of theseason he had just six goals, including none against Princeton, JohnsHopkins and Maryland.
Once again it was North Carolina that got him going. His three goals in atight game against the Tar Heels began a stretch that saw him find the backof the net 25 times in nine games. During the span he tallied four timesagainst Stony Brook, Butler and Delaware in the quarterfinals of the NCAATournament.
So far this season, Jalbert has been more of a playmaker than a scorer. Hehas scored just three times, while assisting on three other scores.To show just how important Jalbert is to the Cavaliers’ success on offense,UVa is 8-6 since 1998 when he scores none or one goal and 10 of those gameshave come in the first half of the season.