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April 4, 2000
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia plays its only game against a state school tonight against Radford. TheHighlanders come into the game with a 1-5 overall record. The Cavaliers are5-1 following an 11-6 win at Maryland last Friday night.
Face-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Tonight’s game is the first of two consecutive night games at Klockner. TheCavaliers host Duke in a night match-up on April 15.
Virginia and Radford have already played two common opponents. Virginiadefeated Rutgers 17-8 and Stony Brook 19-5, while Radford lost to both(Rutgers 19-10, Stony Brook 11-7).
#2 Virginia Cavaliers (5-1) vs.
Radford Highlanders (1-5)
April 4, 2000
7:00 p.m.
Klockner Stadium
Charlottesville, Va.
The Series vs. the Highlanders
Virginia has won all five meetings against Radford, outscoring theHighlanders 112-15 in the process. The series is a relatively new one,beginning in 1985. This is the first match-up of the two schools since 1996.All of the games have been played in Charlottesville, with the 1995 and1996 contests taking place at Klockner Stadium.
Virginia scored 14 goals in a 14-4 win in 1985, but the Cavaliers havescored at least 20 goals in every game since. Meanwhile Virginia hasallowed Radford to score no more than four goals.
The 10-goal margin in 1985 (14-4) is the closest game in the series.Virginia scored 32 goals in the 1995 meeting, which was a school record atthe time (it has since been eclipsed).
The Cavaliers won that game 32-1 and the 31-goal margin is thesecond-biggest in school history (topped only by a 38-5 win over VMI in1996).
Curtis Expected Back Tonight
Defenseman Ryan Curtis is expected back in the starting line-up fortonight’s game. He did not play last Friday against Maryland due to a handinjury suffered following the Johns Hopkins game.
Curtis cut his hand in an off-field incident that required stitchesfollowing UVa’s 16-8 win over Johns Hopkins on March 25.
He had his stitches removed yesterday and was cleared for practice.Richard Reid started in Curtis’ place vs. Maryland.
Virginia at Home vs. In-State Schools
Virginia has dominated state foes at home throughout its lacrosse history,compiling a 56-6-1 all-time record at home against state schools. OverallVirginia has won its last 39 home games against in-state schools datingback to 1976. Virginia’s last home loss to a state school was a 15-9 lossto Washington & Lee in 1976. The Generals also won in Charlottesville in1974, the only two losses to in-state schools since 1947.
Radford has never won in five trips to Charlottesville, including two gamesat Klockner Stadium.
Starting Lineup Settles In
Virginia’s roster this season features seven returning starters and 21other lettermen from last season which gives head coach Dom Starsia and hisstaff the luxury of not having to do too much tinkering to settle on astarting line-up.
Returning on attack are Drew McKnight and Conor Gill. McKnight, a senior,has been a mainstay in the lineup since his arrival in Charlottesvillethree years ago. McKnight has turned in an explosive season offensively sofar and is the leading scorer in the ACC, averaging 5.50 points per game(33 points in six games). McKnight also leads the ACC in assists at 2.83per game. He is second in the conference in goals (2.67/g).
Gill proved himself last year by winning the ACC Rookie of the Year Awardand being named the MVP of the NCAA Tournament. Gill continues to be asteadying presence on the attack and has contributed 12 goals and 11assists this season.
Joining them on attack is sophomore Ian Shure. Shure missed all of lastseason due to a knee injury, but has returned to full strength with 10goals this season. He is a gifted offensive player who saw limited actionas a freshman in 1998, scoring just two goals.
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 form the nucleus of the second unit.
Freshman Chris Rotelli rounds out this group. The third midfield consistsof Jamison Mullen, Will Quayle and Aaron Vercollone. David Jenkins andBrenndan Mohler also see plenty of action in the midfield, primarily indefensive midfield roles.
Hard and Jenkins continue to alternate as faceoff specialists, while PeterRagosa is the top long stick middie once again. Richard Reid also seesconsiderable time at long stick middie.
Ryan Curtis, the nation’s top defensemen, headlines the returnees ondefense. He is joined in the starting trio by Mark Koontz and CourtWeisleder. John Harvey is the top sub, but freshmen Ned Bowen and DavidBurman figure to see action during 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.
Defense Shuts Down Opponents in Last Two
One of the key factors in Virginia’s last two wins has been the play of thedefense, especially the close defense of Ryan Curtis, Mark Koontz and CourtWeisleder.
In the last two games the Cavaliers have allowed a combined 14 goalsagainst two pretty good offensive clubs-Johns Hopkins and Maryland. Bothteams were held to their lowest scoring outputs of the season by theCavaliers. Hopkins scored just eight goals, while Maryland managed only six.Virginia allowed Johns Hopkins to take just 35 shots in the game. Hopkins’three-leading goal scorers coming into the Virginia game (A.J. Haugen 8,Dan Denihan 6, Conor Denihan 6), scored just one goal between them (byHaugen).
The defensive effort against Maryland was even better despite Curtis’absence. He was replaced by Richard Reid and UVa didn’t miss a beat.After spotting Maryland an early 2-1 lead, the Cavaliers proceeded to holdthe Terps scoreless for almost 45 minutes, while pulling away offensively.
Maryland took just two shots in the second quarter and didn’t take itsfirst shot in the second half until 9:03 remained in the game. For those ofyou scoring at home that’s approximately 30 minutes without a shot. For thegame, Maryland took just 17 shots.
Virginia Downs Maryland in ACC Opener
Despite playing without its top defenseman, the Cavaliers turned in anoutstanding defensive effort and defeated Maryland 11-6 Friday night inCollege Park, Md., in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicates.The Cavaliers drew first blood on Jay Jalbert’s goal 1:32 into the contest,but Maryland rallied with two goals of its own to take a 2-1 lead less thansix minutes into the game.
But from that point on it was all Virginia. The Cavaliers closed out thefirst quarter with goals by David Bruce and Conor Gill and added four morein the second quarter to take a 7-2 halftime lead. UVa extended its run tonine consecutive goals to take a 10-2 lead before Maryland was able tomount any sort of offensive threat.
Virginia’s close defense of Mark Koontz, Richard Reid (started in place ofan injured Ryan Curtis) and Court Weisleder held the Terps to only twoshots in the second quarter and none in the third. In fact, Maryland’sfirst shot of the second half came with 9:03 to play and Virginia leading10-2.
The Cavaliers thoroughly stymied the Terrapin attack, holding Maryland tojust 17 shots. At one point Maryland went almost 45 minutes without scoringand almost 30 minutes (including all of the third quarter) without eventaking a shot. Maryland also had three extra-man opportunities but didn’teven take a shot with a man advantage.
The Terp trio of Marcus LaChapelle, Mike LaMonica and Chris Malone cameinto the game with 12 goals apiece, but they combined for just one goal vs.the Cavaliers (in a combined seven shots taken).
Drew McKnight scored three goals and added two assists to lead the attack.Conor Gill also scored three times and recorded an assist. David Brucetallied twice as Virginia took 55 shots.
Led by Mark Koontz‘ career-high eight ground balls, the Cavalierscontrolled loose balls by a 61-47 advantage.
Koontz Named ACC Player of the Week
Defenseman Mark Koontz has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Men’sLacrosse Player of the Week for his play in leading the Cavaliers to an11-6 win over Maryland last Friday night in College Park.
The sophomore from Columbus, Ohio, spearheaded another outstandingdefensive effort as Virginia won its fifth game in a row. He led all UVadefensemen with a career-high eight ground balls in the win as the Terpswere held to their lowest goal output of the season.
Koontz completely shut down his man, attackman Mike Mollott, the Terps’leading scorer coming into the game. Mollott failed to take a shot in thegame and did not record any assists. In fact, Maryland’s three-leadinggoal-scorers entered the game with 36 combined goals, but managed to tallyjust once vs. UVa.
Koontz is tied for fifth in the ACC in ground balls, averaging 5.0 per game.
McKnight Joins Exclusive Club
Drew McKnight has been a remarkably consistent scorer throughout hiscareer, scoring between 19 and 25 goals and assisting on between 20 and 24more goals.
This season McKnight’s scoring has exploded. He leads the ACC in scoring,averaging 5.50 points per game (33 points). He also leads the ACC inassists (2.83/g), and ranks second in the ACC in goals scored (2.67/g).McKnight has scored 16 goals and added 17 assists for 33 total points.With 16 goals so far, he is almost two thirds of the way to his career highof 25 set last year. His 17 assists are also almost three quarters of theway to his career high of 24 set in 1998.
He scored three goals and added two assists in Friday’s win over Marylandto gain membership in an exclusive UVa club-the 80-80 Club. This club iscomprised of players who have scored at least 80 goals and recorded atleast 80 assists.
The members of this club are listed (chronologically) below. McKnight’splace on UVa’s goals, assists and points lists is listed on page four ofthis notes packet.
| Who? | Goals | Assists |
| Tom Duquette | 107 | 92 |
| Kevin Pehlke | 138 | 101 |
| Tim Whiteley | 85 | 159 |
| Doug Knight | 165 | 84 |
| Michael Watson | 142 | 98 |
| Drew McKnight | 82 | 83 |
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 two weeks ago, falling behind 4-2 after 15 minutes of play. But UVaused an 11-2 run in the second and third periods to build a 13-6 lead atone point. Entering the fourth quarter with a 13-8 lead, the Cavalierdefense pitched a shutout in the fourth quarter and handed the Tigers theirfirst loss of the season.
Virginia held a 10-5 lead at halftime against Rutgers and used a thirdquarter shutout of the Scarlet Knights to push the lead to double digits.Against Stony Brook, the shutout came in the second quarter. The Cavaliersallowed two goals in both the third and fourth quarters as head coach DomStarsia substituted liberally throughout the second half.
It is interesting to note that Virginia has allowed 16 first quarter goals,the most of any quarter this season. The Cavaliers have given up nine goalsin both the second and third quarters, and 13 in the fourth quarter.