Men's Lacrosse Season Preview

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Jan. 31, 2001

Charlottesville, Va. – Led by familiar names such as Ryan Curtis, Drew McKnight, Jay Jalbert, Peter Ragosa and Jason Hard, the Cavalier men’s lacrosse program won 84 percent of its games (26-5) over the last two years, claiming a national title in 1999 and capturing back-to-back Atlantic Coast Conference titles.

With all of the aforementioned headliners lost to graduation, however, it is time for a relatively unheralded group of faces to play a leading role in maintaining Virginia’s stature as one of the elite men’s lacrosse programs in the nation.

Ninth-year head coach Dom Starsia believes his 2001 Cavaliers are ready for the challenge. “If the attitude and focus of the fall and offseason workouts are indicative of regular season performance, we will remain in the hunt for the ACC and NCAA titles,” he said.

Other lacrosse authorities concur with that assessment as Virginia was ranked third in the country in the 2001 Face-Off Yearbook preseason coaches’ poll. Starsia’s optimism stems from the return of a nucleus of veterans and talented underclassmen as well as an influx of highly-regarded newcomers. The Cavaliers return 29 lettermen from last year’s team that posted a 13-2 record (3-0 ACC), won its second consecutive ACC championship and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA playoffs.

Among the most prominent holdovers from last season’s NCAA final four squad is junior attackman and returning first-team All-American Conor Gill. He joins senior midfielder David Jenkins and junior defenseman Mark Koontz as Virginia’s 2001 tri-captains. In addition to bolstering the defensive midfield, Jenkins is one of the nation’s top faceoff men. Koontz, a second-team All-American in 2000, returns to anchor UVa’s close defense.

Developing a strong supporting cast around the trio of Gill, Jenkins and Koontz is a top priority for Starsia. His team faces a demanding regular season schedule–including road trips to Syracuse, Princeton and Johns Hopkins in early March–before competing in the ACC Tournament in April and hopefully making another run at the NCAA title in May.

Following is a preseason look at the 2001 Cavaliers by position:

ATTACK

Two-thirds of last year’s starting attack returns in juniors Conor Gill and Ian Shure. Gill was the only non-senior in the nation to earn first-team All-America recognition in 2000 after leading the ACC in scoring (4.40 ppg) and assists (2.67 apg). His 66 points (26 g, 40a) tied for the ninth-highest season total in school history.

“Conor will set the tone at the offensive end,” said Starsia. “He continues to work hard at all parts of his game and has improved consistently throughout his career.”

Shure provides the Cavaliers with another consistent offensive threat. The dynamic lefty ranked fourth on last year’s team in goals (25), assists (11) and total points (36). He joins Gill as one of UVa’s two returning 20-goal scorers from a year ago.

The most apparent void on attack this season is the loss of Drew McKnight, a second-team All-American and ACC Player of the Year in 2000. He led the Cavaliers last season with 33 goals and finished second on the team with 27 assists and 60 points.

Among the contenders vying to replace McKnight in the starting lineup are sophomores A.J. Shannon and Derrick Preuss, senior Jamison Mullen and junior Eric Leibowitz.

“The emergence of a third attackman will be one of the key elements in the evolution of this team,” said Starsia.

Shannon alternated between midfield and attack as a freshman in 2000. He led all ACC rookies with 16 goals and all ACC true freshmen with eight assists and 24 points. Preuss (2+1=3) appeared in eight games last season. Mullen (1+4=5) has played in every game for UVa over the last two seasons, seeing time in the midfield as well as on attack. Leibowitz (1+0=1) improved his chances for increased playing time by virtue of an impressive performance in the fall.

Other players hoping to contribute on attack in 2001 include sophomore Hatcher Snead (1+0=1) and freshman Justin Mullen, the younger brother of Jamison Mullen.

MIDFIELD

A number of key performers are gone from last year’s midfield, most notably two-time first-team All-American Jay Jalbert. A force on both offense and defense, Jalbert totaled 28 goals and a career-high 15 assists in 2000. He finished his career ranked fifth in school history with 112 goals and 12th in Virginia annals with 155 points.

Plenty of talent and depth remains, however, from which Starsia hopes to build a number of formidable units. UVa’s first midfield began to take shape during the fall, with senior Hanley Holcomb leading the way. Holcomb (10+2=12) earned honorable mention All-America status as a junior in 2000, despite being slowed by a hamstring injury early in the season. According to Starsia, Hanley’s experience as a key player throughout his career will be a valuable early commodity.

Sophomores Billy Glading (1+0=1) and Chris Rotelli (7+1=8) appear poised to join Holcomb as linemates. “Billy is extremely quick and Chris is strong and aggressive to the goal,” said Starsia.

UVa’s midfield play centers around senior faceoff specialist David Jenkins. He won 62.1 percent (105 of 169) of his draws in 2000, alternating with Jason Hard to form a potent faceoff tandem. With Hard gone to graduation, however, Jenkins will be expected to shoulder more of the faceoff load this spring.

“David is one of the leading faceoff middies in the country,” said Starsia. “He’s someone who can capitalize on offensive opportunities and who has been on the field for almost all settled defensive situations during the past two seasons. He is a `rock.'”

Starsia expects the competition for the other top midfield units to be fierce throughout the preseason. Seniors Tyler Gilbert, James Kenny (1+0=1) and Evan Mancini, and first-year graduate student Will Quayle (3+1=4) return for their final season in the Cavalier program, eager to make solid contributions. Kenny is also a candidate for the backup faceoff job behind Jenkins.

High on the list of underclassmen is junior Brenndan Mohler (0+3=3), who is capable of a lead role on offense or defense. He missed fall lacrosse with a broken foot, but will be ready to return in the spring.

One of the most intriguing developments that emerged in the fall was moving two-year starting goalie Derek Kenney to the midfield. Considered by Starsia as one of the finest athletes in Division I lacrosse, Kenney played both goalie and middie in the fall. He scored two goals early in his first fall scrimmage and worked hard at learning to face off.

“Derek’s role on the 2001 team is still evolving,” said Starsia. “For the good of the team, he is working at two positions and will play a key role at one of them.”

Other promising middie prospects include juniors Jason Leneau and Nick Russo (1+0=1), junior transfer Bret Wagner, sophomores Andrew Faraone (2+0=2) and Calvin Sullivan, and freshmen Ted Lamade, Jon Focht and Joe Thompson.

DEFENSE

The Cavalier defense was hit hard by graduation, losing starters Ryan Curtis (a two-time All-American), Court Weisleder and long-stick middie Peter Ragosa.

The lone returning starter on close defense is Mark Koontz, who is expected to provide leadership and stability for a youthful group of talented–but inexperienced–players. Koontz earned second-team All-America honors on defense in 2000. He led all ACC long sticks (fifth in the league overall) with 72 ground balls, while adding two assists.

“The entire team draws confidence from the strength of Mark’s character,” said Starsia. “He returns as one of the top defensemen in the country and will be called on to lead on and off the field.”

The other two starters on close defense are expected to emerge from a group that includes senior John Harvey, freshman Brett Hughes, sophomore David Burman and his brother, first-year graduate student Steve Burman, who earned his undergraduate degree from Bucknell last spring. Steve Burman lettered in football and lacrosse at Bucknell, and has one year of lacrosse eligibility remaining. Sophomore Ned Bowen, who did not play in the fall following ankle surgery, could also be a factor this spring.

Junior Ryan Myerberg, sophomore Ryan Binder and freshman Kevin McGrath give the Cavaliers more defensive options. All three players could help behind or in front of the goal.

Sophomore Trey Whitty (1+1=2) is the preseason favorite to start at long stick middie, with additional support and depth coming from freshmen Andrew Agoliati and Zach Heffner.

GOAL

Any talk of Virginia’s goalie position begins with junior Derek Kenney, who has started every game of his Virginia career over the last two seasons. He finished second in the nation last year in goals against average, allowing just 7.47 goals per game, and recorded 108 saves.

Entering the 2001 preseason, however, Starsia was uncertain who would start in goal.

The versatile Kenney was given a serious look in the midfield during the fall, creating an opportunity for Tillman Johnson to become the second freshman goalie to start for the Cavaliers in three years. Possessing good size (6-1, 185) and exceptional poise, Johnson turned in a promising fall season.

Freshman Ryan Thompson and junior George Greczmiel provide the Cavaliers with quality depth.

OVERVIEW

With a difficult early-season road schedule looming and a lot of young talent being thrust into major roles right away, the 2001 Cavaliers may experience a few “growing pains” before establishing their true collective identity. Head coach Dom Starsia is confident, however, that his team will look more and more like ACC and NCAA championship contenders as the season progresses.