Cavalier Men's Lacrosse Upset in NCAA First Round

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May 13, 2001

West Point, N.Y. – The eighth-seeded Virginia men’s lacrosse team lost its opening game in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997 when the Cavaliers fell to Hofstra, 15-14, in sudden death overtime at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. UVa had a commanding 14-9 lead with 8:24 remaining in the fourth quarter, but could not withstand a six-goal Hofstra onslaught.

Virginia jumped out to an 8-4 lead with 95 seconds left in the second stanza. Two late Hofstra goals cut the Cavs’ lead to 8-6, however, and gave the Pride momentum heading into halftime. Despite the late scoring surge from Hofstra, UVa was on the offensive for most of the third quarter and the first six and a half minutes of the fourth quarter. During that time, the Cavaliers outscored the Pride, 6-3, and built a commanding five-goal lead. Virginia’s Hanley Holcomb helped stake the Cavs to their large lead. He scored a career high five goals.

When it appeared as if the Cavaliers would bury Hofstra and move on to a quarterfinal date with Syracuse, the Pride’s Tom Kessler got hot. Kessler scored four of his five goals in the fourth quarter and overtime, including the game-winner 2:27 into sudden death. On the final goal, Kessler had his defender hung up behind the cage and circled from the left side of the goal to stuff the winner past Virginia’s Tillman Johnson.

Cavalier midfielder Chris Rotelli chipped in with three goals and an assist for Virginia, while attackman Conor Gill had three assists and one goal. Johnson had 15 saves, three shy of his career high.

With the loss, Virginia ends its 2001 campaign with a 7-7 overall record. Hostra moves to 10-6 on the season and will face Syracuse in a second round game next weekend. UVa’s first-round loss was its first since 1991. The Cavaliers last lost their first game in the NCAA Tournament in 1997 when they fell to Maryland, 10-9, in a quarterfinal game at the University of Maryland.

Hofstra 15, Virginia 14
1 2 3 4 OT Final Virginia (7-7) 4 4 3 3 0
Hofstra (10-6) 3 3 1 7 1 Goals: H: Ramar Clash 1, Steve McTigue 2, Doug Shanahan 3, Scott Dooley 3 , Tom Kessler 5, Adam Hananel 1. V: Jamison Mullen 2, Shannon 1, Gill 1, Rotelli 3, Holcomb 5, Kenney 1, Jenkins 1.
Assists: H: Clash 2, McTigue 1, Dooley 1, Kessler 1, Lance Yeagle 1. V: Jamison Mullen 1, Glading 3, Gill 3, Justin Mullen 1, Rotelli 1.Shots: V: 43, H:44.
Saves: V: 15 (Johnson 15), H: 12 (Jack Alaimo 12).Ground Balls V: 42, H: 43.
Clearing: V: 17/24, H: 23/26.Faceoffs: V: 21, H: 11.
Penalties: V: 3/3min., H: 4/4min.EMO: V: 1/4, H: 1/3.