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April 7, 2003
Greensboro, NC – Tillman Johnson has been named ACC Men’s Lacrosse Player of the Week for his play in the Cavaliers’ 10-7 win over North Carolina last Saturday. The loss snapped UVa’s two-game losing streak and prevented the Tar Heels from claiming the ACC regular season title.
The junior goalie from Annapolis, Md. turned in one of his best performances of the season to highlight an outstanding defensive effort by the Cavaliers.
He made 14 saves, his second-highest total of the season, while holding the Tar Heels to just seven goals, their season low. Johnson also led the team’s defensive players with seven ground balls.
Nine of his 14 saves came in the second half as the Cavaliers used a stout defense to break a 5-5 halftime tie en route to the win. Johnson and the Cavaliers limited North Carolina to just two goals in the final 30 minutes.
Two of Johnson’s four saves in the third quarter came early in the period with the score still tied at five and prevented the Tar Heels from taking the early momentum.
Once the Cavaliers grabbed the lead, they turned to Johnson to hold it and he came through. With Virginia holding a slim 8-6 lead he saved two Tar Heel one-on-one efforts in the final period to stop their threats at cutting the deficit. He recorded five saves in the final period, his fourth quarter high this season.
Up next for the Cavaliers is conference match-up at Duke on Saturday, April 12.