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Jan. 20, 2001
Charlottesville, Va. – Drew McKnight, the 2000 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, was named the UVa men’s lacrosse team’s most valuable player for the 2000 season at the team’s annual banquet today in Charlottesville.
Prior to the awards banquet, the lacrosse program hosted a reception to dedicate the team’s expanded and rebuilt locker room facilities at University Hall.
McKnight received the Dr. Allen Voshell Award after turning in the best all-around season of his career in guiding the Cavaliers to a 13-2 record. A second-team All-American, he led the team in goals (33) and was second behind Conor Gill in assists (27) and points (60). Twice named team captain, McKnight finished his career as one of only four players in school history to score at least 90 goals (99) and add at least 90 assists (93).
Junior attackman Conor Gill and midfielder Jay Jalbert were named co-recipients of the team’s offensive MVP award. Gill, the lone sophomore on last season’s All-America first team, led the ACC in scoring (4.40 ppg) and assists (2.67 apg). Jalbert, the 1999 national midfielder of the year, became the first UVa midfielder named a first-team All-American in back-to-back seasons since the early 1970s. Jalbert scored 28 goals and added 15 assists.
Defenseman Ryan Curtis and long-stick middie Peter Ragosa shared the team’s defensive MVP for the third year in a row. The Cavaliers ranked fifth in scoring defense, allowing an average of 8.20 goals, UVa’s lowest figure since 1986. Curtis, the 1999 national defenseman of the year, became only the second two-time first-team All-American defenseman in school history. Ragosa, a third-team All-American and a scholar All-American, was one of the nation’s top long stick middies throughout his career.
Senior faceoff specialist and midfielder David Jenkins was awarded the Harry Gaver Award for leadership. A very unheralded player, won more than 62 percent of his faceoffs last season to rank ninth in the nation. He also led the ACC in ground balls.
Defenseman Court Weisleder received the Tom Rixey Award for spirit and inspiration. He graduated in May 1999 and took a job on Wall Street following the Cavaliers’ national title run, but longed to use his final year of eligibility. He left his job in the financial industry and returned to the team just before the start of last year’s spring semester.
Defenseman Richard Reid won the Lawrie Riggs Award for committment and citizenship. Reid, who graduated in May with a degree in economics, was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll all four years.
Sophomore defenseman Ryan Binder was awarded the Doyle Smith Award for compiling the highest GPA (3.69) on the team. A civil engineering major, he was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll last season.
Midfielder/attack David Bruce was named the team’s most improved player. Competing as a graduate student last spring, he proved to be an invaluable member of the second midfield unit and scored a career-high 22 goals.
The “Class of `99 Unsung Hero Award” was presented to goalie Ben O’Neil. O’Neil, who graduated last May with a degree in history, proved to be a valuable contributor as a reserve behind starter Derek Kenney.
“It is very special day that we have an opportunity to gather the 2000 Virginia lacrosse team back for a proper recognition'” said head coach Dom Starsia. “A group that followed the 1999 NCAA national championship by setting a Virginia record for consecutive wins in a season consistently demonstrated the character and committment we are always searching for with our teams. This 2000 team clearly raised the bar for Virginia lacrosse and produced one of our most memorable seasons.”