Story Links
#3 Virginia Cavaliers vs. #1 Syracuse Orangemen
March 3, 2001
2:30 p.m.
Carrier Dome
Syracuse, N.Y.
Saturday’s game is being broadcast on Syracuse station WFBL (1050 AM). Listen to the live webcast at their website here.
The Series vs. the Orangemen
The Cavaliers and Orangemen have staged some of the most thrilling battles in college athletics throughout the last decade, but the rivalry stretches back more than half a century. Syracuse won the first meeting 13-4 in 1938 and has won seven of the 13 meetings all-time.
The two schools battled only three times between 1938-94, but have met at least once each season since 1994.
The two titans have clashed early in the regular season every year since 1995 in what are among the most anticipated games of the season by lacrosse fans everywhere. Four of the 10 meetings since 1994 have occurred in the national playoffs.
A three-goal win can be considered a “blow out” in this series as seven of the last 10 games have been decided by two goals or less. In the recent history of the series (since 1994), Virginia’s biggest win was an eight-goal triumph (15-7 in 1995), while Syracuse’s biggest win was a seven-goal victory also in 1995 (20-13).
Syracuse won last season’s thriller 13-12 in overtime in Charlottesville, the third one-goal win for the Orangemen in the series. (Virginia won the one-goal contest in 1994.)
The Cavaliers have fared somewhat better in two-goal games, winning two of three. Their most recent win over Syracuse was a 12-10 victory in the 1999 national championship game.
Syracuse has won two of the three match-ups at the Carrier Dome, including the last two (1997, `99).
Both teams are known for their high-powered offense, but curiously neither team has scored more than 14 goals in the last three meetings.
Virginia vs. #1
Syracuse comes into this afternoon’s contest ranked #1 in all the major polls, while the Cavaliers are #3 in the polls.
It is interesting to note that this is Virginia’s first meeting against the #1 team since 1997, when the Cavaliers fell to Princeton 14-13 in overtime.
Remarkably Virginia has won all three meetings against Syracuse when the Orangemen sat atop the polls–1994, 1995 (at the Carrier Dome) and 1996.
Not surprisingly, Johns Hopkins is UVa’s most frequent #1 opponent–12 meetings.
Virginia is 9-16 all-time vs. the #1 team, including a 5-2 mark under Dom Starsia.A look at UVa’s games against the #1 team are shown below.
Year #1 Opp. UVa rank Site Winner, score1973 Md. #3 Towson UVa, 10-91973 JHU #2 A JHU, 14-91974 Md. #2 A Md., 25-131975 JHU #4 A JHU, 10-9 (OT)1976 Md. #6 A Md., 24-15 (OT)1979 JHU #4 A JHU, 13-81979 JHU (NCAA) #5 A JHU, 16-71980 JHU #8 H UVa, 12-91981 JHU #4 A JHU, 15-131981 JHU (NCAA) #4 A JHU, 10-61983 JHU #4 A JHU, 12-61985 JHU #4 A JHU, 12-51985 JHU (NCAA) #4 A JHU, 11-81986 Md. #7 A UVa, 8-7 (OT)1987 Md. #6 H Md., 12-51989 JHU #9T A JHU, 12-31991 UNC #5 H UNC, 11-101992 JHU #10 H UVa, 15-91993 UNC #7 H UVa, 13-12 (OT)1994 Syra. #5 Md. UVa, 15-14 (OT)1995 Syra. #2T A UVa, 15-71996 Syra. #2 H UVa, 17-151996 Md. #3 H UVa, 13-91996 Prince. (NCAA) #3 Md. Princeton, 13-12 (OT)1997 Prince. #3 A Princeton, 14-13 (OT)
Cavaliers Undefeated on Today’s Date
For many years Virginia’s season didn’t start until mid-March or later, but in the last 15 years or so the season has typically started in late February or the first week of March.
As a result, the Cavaliers haven’t played many games on March 3, but they have had outstanding success on the games they have played on that date, winning all four times they’ve played. Their first game on March 3 was a 20-2 win over Delaware in 1990. They played on March 3 the following year as well–a 14-7 win over Navy.
Mercyhurst has been Virginia’s opponent in its last two games on March 3. Virginia won 27-2 in 1997 and 17-2 the following year.
Cavaliers Down Towson 12-8 in Opener
Getting seven goals combined from the first midfield unit of Hanley Holcomb, Billy Glading and Chris Rotelli, the Cavaliers defeated Towson 12-8 in the season opener last Saturday at the University Hall Turf Field.
Holcomb dispatched last season’s disappointment with three goals to share the scoring honors with Glading, who scored just once last spring.
Rookie goalie Tillman Johnson started slowly but recorded 12 saves in his first collegiate start. He was rarely tested in the first three quarters before giving up three scores in the final 15 minutes.
The Cavaliers raced out to a 7-1 lead with 13:37 remaining in the second quarter, paced by two Holcomb goals and two scored by midfielder Andrew Faraone. The Towson defense slowed the Cavaliers for the remainder of the quarter, as Virginia was limited to one Holcomb goal with 1:38 left. Towson midfielder Hunter Lochte scored twice as the Tigers narrowed the Virginia lead to 8-4 at the half.
Towson turned up its offensive intensity in the second half, putting 19 of its 35 shots on the Virginia goal in the last 30 minutes. While the Tigers scored four times, including one goal and one assist by defenseman Brad Reppert, Johnson collected seven saves for the half.
Three Towson goals in the fourth quarter helped trim the Tigers’ deficit to four, but the Cavaliers ran out the clock after Towson midfielder Brad Monaco scored with 2:05 remaining.
Senior midfielder David Jenkins won 15 of 23 faceoff attempts in the game and scooped up a game-high 12 ground balls and was named ACC Player of the Week.
Holcomb Tallies Three in Opener vs. Towson
Hanley Holcomb scored 27 goals two years ago and was one of the unsung Cavaliers during their championship season. But last season was a trying one for the lefty from Ridgewood, N.J. Hampered for much of the season with a nagging hamstring injury, his goal output dropped to 10 as he pressed to regain his scoring touch. He scored just once in the first six games (missed two due to injury) and he failed to score more than two goals in any game.
Owner of one of the hardest shots in the game today, Holcomb has worked hard on both ends of the field during the preseason to become a more complete player and put last season behind him. An outstanding fall caught the notice of some of the preseason All-American pickers who named him to their preseason squads.
He got his season off to an outstanding start in last Saturday’s opener vs. Towson by scoring three goals to share scoring honors with Billy Glading. His three goals are the most he’s scored since notching three vs. Syracuse in the 1999 national championship game.
In the Towson contest, Virginia’s first midfield unit of Holcomb, Billy Glading and Chris Rotelli combined for seven goals and two assists. Holcomb and Glading scored three goals apiece, while Rotelli passed off for a career-high two assists and chipped in with one goal.
Glading Records Hat Trick in First Extended Action
Billly Glading got caught behind an experienced group of midfielders as a rookie last season and didn’t see much action (just seven games). But with David Bruce, Jason Hard and Jay Jalbert having graduated, there are plenty of opportunities for Glading and a host of other youngsters (including Andrew Faraone, Ted Lamade, Brett Wagner among others) to see significant time in the midfield.
Based on an outstanding fall season, Glading has been chosen to several preseason All-America teams and he quickly seems to be justifying the selection. In the season opener against Towson last week, he scored three goals to tie Hanley Holcomb for the team scoring lead. He also scored three goals combined in the two scrimmages vs. Georgetown and Loyola the week before the Towson game. Not bad for a player who only took three shots and scored one goal last spring.
Jenkins Named ACC Lacrosse Player of the Week
Midfielder David Jenkins was named the ACC’s Men’s Lacrosse Player of the Week for his efforts in leading the Cavaliers to last weekend’s 12-8 season-opening win vs. Towson.
Jenkins was outstanding as UVa’s faceoff man, winning 15 of 23 draws in the game. His efforts were especially important early in the game as he won six of seven attempts in the first quarter to help UVa jump to a 5-1 lead. The Cavaliers built an 8-4 halftime lead as the senior tri-captain from Dedham, Mass., claimed 12 of 14 first half faceoffs. Unheralded as a defensive midfielder, Jenkins also led the team with 12 ground balls.
A preseason All-American, Jenkins is one of the nation’s top faceoff specialists. He ranked ninth in Division I last season, winning 62.1 percent of his faceoffs.
Koontz Replaces Curtis as UVa’s Marquee Defensive Stalwart
Junior defenseman Mark Koontz has quickly established himself as one of the top defensemen in the nation. A preseason All-America choice this season, Koontz was one of only three sophomores named first- or second-team All-America in 2000 (joining teammate Conor Gill and Syracuse’s Josh Coffman).
He was also named to the All-ACC team, recognition that is even harder to receive than All-American, to become the first UVa sophomore defenseman named All-ACC since Scott Lind in 1984.Playing in the shadow of two-time first-team All-American Ryan Curtis the last two years, Koontz very quietly led ACC long sticks with 72 ground balls (fifth overall) last spring.
A very athletic defenseman, Koontz will take over for Curtis in being assigned to the opposition’s top offensive threat.
He also possesses outstanding stick skills that enable him to be a potential threat on the fast break. As example of this occurred in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament against North Carolina. Following a Tar Heel miss, he scooped up the loose ball and raced down field. Spotting an open Ian Shure just past midfield, he hit Shure in stride who slid an off-balance shot into the net to give the Wahoos a double overtime win.
Three Named Co-captains
Midfielder David Jenkins, attackman Conor Gill and defenseman Mark Koontz were elected captains for this season in a vote of their teammates.
Jenkins, a senior from Dedham, Mass., has been among the nation’s top faceoff men the last two years and a stalwart defensive midfielder. He was ninth in the country in faceoffs last season, winning 62.1 percent of his draws. Jenkins also added a career-high five goals and three assists as UVa advanced to the national semifinals for the second year in a row.
Gill, a junior from Lutherville, Md., is considered by many as the top player in the nation. He led the ACC in scoring (4.40 ppg) and assists (2.67) last season. Gill was the only non-senior named a first-team All-America last spring after scoring 26 goals and assisting on 40 others.
Koontz was named a second-team All-American last season, his first as a starter. The junior, a native of Upper Arlington, Ohio, led the team’s long sticks with 72 ground balls in 2000 and joined Gill as the only sophomores on the All-ACC squad.
Graduate Student and Transfer Steve Burman Adds Experience to Defense
Starting defenseman Steve Burman sports one of the most unusual backgrounds for a Cavalier in a long time.
A two-sport star (football, lacrosse) at Bucknell, Burman graduated from the Lewisburg, Pa., school last spring. He earned four letters as a linebacker for the football squad and three as a member of the Bison lacrosse team. Last season he was named All-Patriot league in lacrosse and finished second on the team in ground balls (42).
But with his undergraduate degree earned and a year of lacrosse eligibility remaining, Burman decided to venture south and join his younger brother David at UVa and compete as a graduate student. He is enrolled in the Curry School of Education and is expected to receive a master’s degree in social foundations this summer.
His presence in Charlottesville is welcomed by head coach Dom Starsia, who is faced with having to replace five of his top-seven defensemen from last season.
Colbeck Shares Award at Nation’s Top Assistant
UVa assistant coach Chris Colbeck and Syracuse assistant Kevin Donahue shared the Jay Gallagher Award as the nation’s outstanding assistant lacrosse coach awarded at the annual coaches’ convention earlier this year.
Colbeck is entering his fifth year on head coach Dom Starsia’s staff. He serves as the offensive coordinator and is nationally recognized as one of the brightest, most innovative offensive coaches in the game today. Under his guidance, Virginia has led the NCAA in scoring in both 1997 and 1999 and is annually one of the most explosive offenses in the country. He has coached four first-team All-America attackmen, two ACC Players of the Year and one ACC Rookie of the Year.
Gill and Koontz Tabbed Preseason First-Team All-Americans
First-team selections Conor Gill (A) and Mark Koontz (D) headline six Cavaliers named to the Face-off Yearbook preseason All-America squad. Joining them are third-team selections A.J. Shannon (A) and Hanley Holcomb (M), and honorable mention choices Billy Glading (M) and David Jenkins (FO).
Gill, a first-team All-America last season, is one of the most gifted attackmen in the country. He led the ACC (and placed 11th nationally) in scoring last season with 66 points (26g, 40a), an average of 4.40 ppg. He also led the ACC and finished eighth in the nation in assists with an average of 2.67 apg. In his career, the Lutherville, Md., native has scored 122 points and reached the century mark faster than any UVa player since Kevin Pehlke in the early 1990s.
Koontz was a second-team All-American in 2000, joining Gill and Syracuse’s Josh Coffman (2nd) as the only sophomores named first- or second-team All-Americans. A budding star, he and Gill were the only sophs named All-ACC last spring. A steadying influence on defense, Koontz has outstanding stick skills and led ACC long sticks with 72 ground balls a year ago. He tied his career high with eight ground balls in front of a record crowd at Ohio State in his hometown of Columbus.
Shannon, a sophomore from Whitby, Ontario, Canada, was UVa’s top freshman last spring, alternating between attack and the midfield. He scored 16 goals to lead all ACC freshmen, while his eight assists and 24 points led the league’s true freshmen. He is one of the most powerful players on the team and his continued development will go a long way toward the team’s offensive success.
Holcomb looks to bounce back from a frustrating season when he scored 10 goals and added two assists. The senior lefty from Ridgewood, N.J., was hampered for much of the season by a bad hamstring, but he had an outstanding fall season and looks to regain the form he displayed in 1999 when the Cavaliers claimed the national title. His experience solidifies the first midfield unit.
Glading saw limited action in seven games as a rookie last spring, but he got stronger during the offseason and turned in an excellent fall season on the first midfield with Holcomb. He is a versatile offensive player, who uses his quickness effectively.
Jenkins, a senior tri-captain with Gill and Koontz, is one of the top faceoff men in the country. He finished ninth in the nation last season, winning 62.1 percent of his draws. A very unheralded player, he led the team with 92 ground balls last spring. Primarily a defensive midfielder, he can score if needed as shown by his five goals and three assists (all career highs) in `00.
Three Named to CollegeLacrosseUSA.com Squad
Three Cavaliers have been named to the preseason All-America squad named by CollegeLacrosseUSA.com. Junior attackman Conor Gill and junior defenseman Mark Koontz were named to the first-team, while senior midfielder Hanley Holcomb was a second-team selection.
Freshman Takes Over Between the Pipes
Tillman Johnson, one of the top goalies in the country in last year’s recruiting class, started in last Saturday’s opener–a 12-8 win over Towson. After a shaky start in which he failed to make a save in the first quarter, Johnson settled in and finished with 12 saves overall.
His start marks the second time in the last three seasons that Dom Starsia has started a rookie in goal. Derek Kenney, the starter in goal the last two seasons, became the first freshman to start in the cage for Virginia since 1979. Kenney moved to the midfield this season, but has missed almost all of preseason practice due to an injury. He could return to the goal should Johnson suffer an injury during the season, but is otherwise expected to play in the midfield upon his return.
Johnson also exhibited the outstanding instincts many talked about prior to his arrival in Charlottesville in UVa’s last two preseason scrimmages. Against Georgetown on Feb.16, Johnson recorded nine saves–all in the first half–and relinquished just two goals in three quarters of action. The next day in the final preseason scrimmage vs. Loyola, he snuffed 12 shots, while allowing just four goals in almost 50 minutes of play. In both scrimmages, Johnson displayed the quick reflexes needed to make point blank saves as he consistently stymied both teams.
Jenkins Assumes Primary Face-off Duty
For the last three years David Jenkins and Jason Hard shared UVa’s face-offs responsibilities and gave Dom Starsia the luxury of having two outstanding face-off specialists. In fact, both were ranked in the top 10 in the nation the last two seasons. But with Hard’s graduation, Jenkins will be taking most of the team’s draws this season.
The senior tri-captain was ninth nationallly in winning percentage last spring, claiming 62.1 percent of his opportunities (105 of 169). He is the seventh-leading returnee this season in terms of winning percentage.
For his career, Jenkins has won 62.4 percent of his face-offs, the second-highest total in school history. Steve Kraus holds the school record with a 68.0 winning percentage.
Jenkins is also nearing UVa’s top five in face-off wins in his career. Virginia’s winningest face-off men are listed below.
name, years taken W L Pct. 1. Jason Hard, 1997-00 949 539 410 .568 2. Brad Wood, 1984-87 707 423 284 .598 3. Tony Nugent, 1992-95 668 362 306 .542 4. Steve Kraus, 1978-81 478 325 153 .680 5. Greg Montgomery, 1971-74 537 309 228 .575 6. David Jenkins, 1998-01 460 287 173 .624
Gill Spearheads the Attack
Preseason All-American Conor Gill is expected to be the Cavaliers’ offensive catalyst again this season. He avoided the dreaded “sophomore slump” last spring by leading the ACC in scoring (66 pts., 4.40 ppg) and assists (40 ast., 2.67 apg). He also found the back of the net 26 times.
He has been slowed somewhat during the preseason due to a sore knee, but you’d never know it based on his performance in the final two scrimmages or last weekend’s opener vs. Towson.Against Georgetown on Feb. 16, he scored three goals and added three assists while playing just three quarters. One of his passes was of the behind-the-back variety right to Billy Glading’s stick who promptly rocketed a shot past the goalie.
Operating with just over 12 hours rest, Gill and the rest of the Cavaliers came back the next afternoon to face Loyola in the final preseason scrimmage. As usual Gill fed for three different Cavaliers for goals, while adding a goal of his own.
In the season opener against Towson last Saturday, Gill directed an efficient offense, leading the way with a game-high three assists, while adding a goal.
One characteristic Gill will no doubt try to avoid is a slow start to the season. He scored five goals and had eight assists in the first four games of last season. As a freshman two years ago, Gill scored eight goals and added five assists in the first four games, but five of the goals came in one game.
Once he gets going, though, he’s a hard man to stop. In last season’s final seven games, he recorded 24 assists and had at least three each time except when he was blanked by Duke in the national quarterfinals. In the semifinal loss to Princeton, Gill contributed a career-high tying five assists (to go along with two goals).
Gill is currently 14th in school history with 73 assists and 21st in points with 122.
Today’s Expected Starting Line-up
With the loss of four All-Americans, a face-off specialist and a steady defenseman, Virginia’s starting line-up features as many new faces as it has in several years.
Conor Gill, one of the most gifted offensive performers in the nation, leads the attack once again. Adept at delivering the ball in tight spaces, he led the ACC and finished eighth in the nation in assists with an average of 2.67 apg. Joining Gill on attack are sophomore A.J. Shannon and either senior Jamison Mullen, junior Ian Shure or sophomore Derrick Preuss at the final attack spot. Shannon played primarily midfield last season, but is known for his ability to find the back of the net. He scored five goals vs. Loyola in UVa’s final preseason scrimmage. Mullen is a versatile performer who has seen time at attack and midfield throughout his career. Shure scored 25 goals last spring, but he missed all fall practice due to groin surgery and has been slowly working his way back. Preuss scored twice last season, but found himself stuck behind more experienced players as a rookie.
The first midfield consists of senior Hanley Holcomb, and sophomores Billy Glading and Chris Rotelli. Holcomb looks to bounce back from a frustrating season last spring when he spent a good portion of his time battling a leg injury. Rotelli ran on the second midfield a year ago and proved to be one of the team’s top rookies. Glading saw limited action as a rookie, but had an outstanding fall to earn a spot on the first unit.
Senior David Jenkins shared the face-off duties with the graduated Jason Hard the last two years, and will be the primary specialist this season. Sophomore Trey Whitty played in 11 games as a reserve long-stick middle last season, but moves in as the team’s top LSM due to the graduation of Peter Ragosa and Richard Reid.
Preseason All-American Mark Koontz headlines the defense for coach Dom Starsia. Koontz spent his first two years playing in the shadow of the graduated Ryan Curtis, but is ready to claim his spot as one of the nation’s top defensemen this season. Joining him on defense are expected to be transfer Steve Burman and freshman Brett Hughes. Burman graduated from Bucknell last year, but had a year of eligibility remaining and moved to Virginia. His experience will prove invaluable, especially early in the year. Hughes, a high school All-American hailing from Koontz’ hometown of Upper Arlington, Ohio, has had an excellent preseason and looks to continue Virginia’s tradition of grooming defensemen.
Freshman Tillman Johnson takes over in goal. He becomes the second freshman in the last three years to start in goal for UVa.
Starsia’s Cavaliers vs. Higher Ranked Opponents
Virginia is ranked third in this week’s polls, while Syracuse sits atop the major polls.Since Dom Starsia took over the Virginia program in 1993, the Cavaliers have never been ranked lower than eighth (1993), so more often than not they are the higher ranked team.
However, on the rare occasions when the Cavaliers are the lower ranked squad they have had pretty good success springing an upset. as shown by their 13-13 record when being the lower-ranked team.
Virginia is 2-3 against Syracuse when ranked lower under Starsia. The wins occurred in 1994, the 1995 game at the Carrier Dome, while the losses have come in 1998 (two) and 1999 at the Dome.When the Cavaliers are the visitors they are 3-6 as the lower ranked squad (under Starsia).