Seventeen Cavaliers Named to ACC's 50th Anniversary Men's Lacrosse Team

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Aug. 27, 2002

GREENSBORO, NC – Seventeen former University of Virginia men’s lacrosse players were named to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 50th Anniversary Team announced today by ACC Commissioner John Swofford. The 57-member team was voted on by the four league institutions that sponsor the sport as decided by the league’s 50th Anniversary Committee.

Five members of UVa’s 1972 national championship team were selected including Jay Connor, Doug Cooper, Tom Duquette, Pete Eldredge and Rodney Rullman. The 1999 national championship squad featured four honorees: Ryan Curtis, Conor Gill, Jay Jalbert, and Tucker Radebaugh.

Other Cavalier greats named to the squad include: Steve Byrne, Doug Knight, Andy Kraus, Roddy Marino, Kevin O’Shea, Kevin Pehlke, Michael Watson and Tim Whiteley.

Maryland led all league schools with 19 members on the Golden Anniversary team, followed by UVa’s 17 honorees. North Carolina had 15 individuals selected, Duke five and N.C. State one.

Sketches of the 17 Virginia honorees are listed below alphabetically:

Byrne (1980-83) was a three-time All-American, including winning first-team honors in 1983. He received the Schmeisser Cup in 1983 as the nation’s top defenseman and was selected the ACC Player of the Year that year as well. He was a key member of Cavalier squads that advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament three times.

Connor (1969-1972), an integral member of national championship squads in 1970 and 1972 , was named first-team All-American in 1971 and 1972. He set school records (that have since been broken) for career and season points and assists and completed his career as the third-leading scorer and second in assists in ACC history. He was elected to the Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1995.

Cooper (1971-1974) ran on the first midfield all four years for some of the best teams in school history and was a three-time All-American. He was a member on national title team in 1972 and reached the final four again in 1973.

Curtis (1997-2000) was a three-time All-American, including first-team selections in 1999 and 2000. He was awarded the Schmeisser Cup as nation’s top defenseman following Virginia’s national championship in 1999. He was named to the NCAA Championships All-Tournament team in 1999 and 2000 and started for three ACC championship squads.

Duquette (1970-1973) was a four-time All-American, including first-team honors in 1973. A four-year starter on attack, he finished his career fourth in ACC history with 199 points. The second player in ACC history to record 90 goals and 90 assists, Duquette completed his career first in school history in goals, and second in assists and points. One of five members of UVa’s national championship named to the anniversary team, he was inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2001.

Eldredge (1969-1972) garnered All-American honors three times, including first-team recognition in 1971 and 1972. As a senior in 1972 he became the first player in ACC history to win the Enners award as the nation’s Most Outstanding Player. He led the ACC that season with 36 goals (then a school record). He completed his career as UVa’s all-time leader with 94 goals. He was a member of 1970 and 1972 national championship teams and scored the winning goal in the ’72 title game vs. John Hopkins. He was inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1990.

Gill (1999-2002) completed his collegiate career this past season and is the youngest Cavalier named to the anniversary squad. He was a first-team All-American in 2000 and 2001 and a second-team selection as a senior in 2002. He was named the ACC Rookie of the Year in 1999 when he helped lead the Cavaliers to the national championship. He scored five goals in the first quarter of the semifinal game against Johns Hopkins that season and became the first freshman named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Championships. He finished his career tied for second in assists (146) and seventh in career points (223) in ACC history.

Jalbert (1997-2000) was a dominating midfielder during his career and received the McLaughlin Award as the nation’s top middie in 1999 when he scored 31 goals as Virginia won the NCAA title. He was a first-team All-American in 1999 and 2000, one of three first-team middies in school history. He was named to three All-ACC Tournament teams (1998, 99, 00) and was the MVP in ’99. He completed his career 17th in ACC history, and fifth in UVa history, with 112 goals.

Knight (1994-1997) was one of the most dynamic offensive players in school history and was known for his relentless play around the crease. A three-time All-American, including first-team honors in 1996-97, he finished his career third in ACC history with 249 points and second in goals (165). He won the Enners Award as the nation’s Most Outstanding Player in 1996 when the led the nation in scoring (86 points) and goals (ACC record 56).

Kraus (1987-1991) was a two-time All-American, including first-team honors in 1988 and second-team honors in 1991. A three-time All-ACC selection in 1988-89-91, he was selected the ACC Player of the Year as a sophomore in 1988. One of the top faceoff specialists throughout his career, he won more than 63 percent of his faceoffs three straight years and still ranks fifth in UVa history in win percentage. He was also a force on the offensive end, scoring 75 goals and adding 32 assists during his career.

Marino (1983-1986) is one of 10 members of the newest class elected to the Lacrosse Hall of Fame earlier this summer. A three-time All-American, including first-team honors in 1986, he capped an outstanding senior season in 1986 by winning the Turnbull Award as the nation’s top attackman. He finished his career third in school history in goals (97) and fifth in points (164) and is one of just five players in league history named All-ACC four times.

O’Shea (1977-1980) is one of the most outstanding defensemen in conference history. He was named first-team All-American in 1979 and 1980, the first defenseman in school history and the third in ACC history to be a two-time first-team selection. In 1980 he became the first defenseman to win the league’s Player of the Year award. He played on two final four squads and led UVa defensemen in ground balls his last three years.

Pehlke (1990-1993) is another in a long line of outstanding attackmen at Virginia in recent years. He was a four-time All-American and was named the ACC Rookie of the Year in 1990. He stood as UVa’s all-time leader in goals (138) and points (239), and fourth in assists (101) upon completion of his career in 1993. A three-time All-ACC selection, he remains one of only four players in league history with 100 goals and 100 assists.

Radebaugh (1996-1999) captained UVa’s national title squad in 1999 and was named the ACC Player of the Year that season. He was a three-time All-American and won first-team honors in 1999. That season he led the ACC in goals, assists and points to become just the fourth player to lead the league in all three categories in the same season.

Rullman (1972-1975) is just one of four goalies named to the ACC’s anniversary team. Considered one of the top goalies in school history, he became the first freshman goalie to win an NCAA title in 1972. A four-year starter, he was presented the Kelly Award in 1975 as the nation’s top goalie. He holds the school record with 553 career saves. Rullman is a Charlottesville resident and remains active in the local lacrosse community.

Watson (1994-1997) is one of the most decorated players in school history. He was a four-time All-American, receiving first-team recognition in 1996 and 1997. Watson won the Turnbull Award as a junior in 1996 as the nation’s top attackman. He began his career by being named the ACC Rookie of the Year in 1994 and concluded it as the league’s Player of the Year in 1997. One of only five players in conference history to be selected all-conference four times, Watson completed his career fifth in ACC history in points (24), sixth in goals (142), and 16th in assists (98).

Whiteley (1993-1996) was one of the nation’s top assistmen throughout his career, leading the ACC three times. A three-time All-American, including second-team honors in 1994 and 1996, he remains the ACC’s all-time leader with 159 assists. He led the conference in scoring in 1994 and was named the ACC Rookie of the Year in 1993.

The ACC’s 50th Anniversary Men’s Lacrosse team, in alphabetical order, follows: