Story Links
April 28, 2003
The Virginia Men’s Lacrosse team recently captured the Atlantic Coast Conference title this season, along with a number of individual honors. Senior Midfielder Chris Rotelli was named the 2003 ACC Player of the Year and Head Coach Dom Starsia was named the ACC Coach of the Year for the sixth time.
Rotelli, a fourth year from Rumford, Rhode Island, is one of the top midfielders in the country and is the first Cavalier middie to win this honor in 15 years.
“It is an honor to receive this award,” said Rotelli. “With so many great players in this league, as well as on my own team, it feels really nice to be recognized.”
Rotelli has worked extremely hard throughout his career, averaging 3.18 points per game this season. He is the only player to rank in the top 5 in the ACC in goals (4th), assists (4th), and scoring (2nd) this spring. Rotelli believes his ownership of the field this year is due to holding himself accountable. Being responsible for his actions and making changes to his game when necessary have allowed him to perform at a higher level.
“I think that it is all part of becoming the most complete player I can be, and it is something that Coach Starsia has really helped me with this season,” Rotelli said.
While Rotelli credits his parents, teachers, and friends for helping influence his academic career, he said Coach Starsia and the Men’s Lacrosse staff have played the biggest role in his lacrosse career.
“As far as my time at UVA, Coach Starsia has been really great in helping me understand what it takes to succeed at this level,” said Rotelli. “He has helped me to see the big picture, and has been crucial in helping me develop as a good leader. I certainly would not be where I am as a player or as a person without him.”
In addition to guiding the Cavaliers to their first ACC title in three years, Coach Starsia was named the league’s top coach for the second year in a row. Overall, he has a 119-42 record at UVa and is the fifth-winningest coach in ACC history.
“I’m absolutely humbled by having won this award so frequently here in my 11 years at UVa,” said Starsia. “Anyone who coaches at this level would tell you that it is not a one-man operation. I have truly been blessed by having wonderful assistants and staff to help out our players.”
Starsia credits the teams’ success this season to hard work, caring about one another as a team, and setting realistic goals. He also believes that the 11 seniors on the team have played a significant role because they have led the team all year.
“They have truly been an outstanding group of guys,” said Starsia. “Whether they are helping out other guys on the team academically, or with lacrosse, this group of guys has been on the mark since the first day. This team goes where the seniors take them on a daily basis.”
The team is currently preparing for the NCAA Tournament, but first must finish the regular season against Denver.
“Right now we are really just focusing on finishing up our regular season and the end of the school year,” said Starsia. “Although the tournament is in our mind, we are not really obsessing over it at the moment. Once we finish the season and exams, then we’ll start to focus more on the NCAA’s.”
“I will say that the team is well prepared and we have a very good chance to reach our final goal of an NCAA Championship. We have lots of work to do but we have put ourselves in a position where our goals are realistic,” said Starsia.
Monday, April 28th, marks the end of the regular season for the Virginia Men’s Lacrosse team as they take on Denver at 7:00 p.m. at Klockner Stadium. Tickets will be on sale one hour prior to game time at the Klockner Stadium Ticket Gate. Regular admission is $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens, UVA Faculty, and youth age 18 and under. For more ticket information, please call 924-UVA1 or 1-800-542-UVA1.