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Feb. 20, 2004
Charlottesville, Va. –
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Game 1
#1 Virginia at Drexel
Feb. 21, 2004 * 11 am
Haverford School * Haverford, Pa.
Game Info
The Records:
Virginia: 15-2 in 2003
Drexel: 6-8 in 2003
The Rankings:
Virginia: #1 in the Face-Off Yearbook preseason poll
Drexel: not ranked
The Series vs. Drexel:
Overall: 3-0
Away: 1-0
Current Streak: W3
Biggest UVa Win: 15, 2002 (20-5)
UVa Goals: 46
DU Goals: 15
Starsia (UVa) vs. DU: 2-0
Last Meeting:
Virginia won 19-8 in last year’s season opener
Radio Coverage: There is not radio coverage for this game. Several Virginia games will be broadcast by WINA (AM 1070) this season. Follow this link www.virginiasports.com for the complete schedule of games.
The Series vs. the Dragons
Virginia has won all three previous meetings against Drexel, including wins in the season opener the last two seasons.
Midfielder led the way last year with a career-high five goals in UVa’s 19-8 victory. The game was tight for most of the first 45 minutes, but Virginia scored six unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to gain the win. The Cavaliers outshot the Dragons 63-29 and won two-thirds of the faceoffs (20 of 30).
Virginia’s 20-5 win two years ago was the first meeting in more than 50 years. Middie , currently playing on the UVa basketball team, tallied four times as the first midfield unit scored nine times.
The first meeting of the two schools occurred in 1947, Virginia’s first season following World War II. The Cavaliers eked out a 7-2 victory in Philadelphia. Barry Robertson was high man for Virginia with four goals, while goalie Bob Catzen registered 12 saves. Curiously Catzen’s 12 saves that afternoon still stand as the most by a Cavalier goalie in the series.
Virginia has had at least one player score four goals in all three meetings. All told eight Cavaliers have scored at least three goals in a game vs. the Dragons.
Several Cavaliers Begin With Bang vs. Drexel
Many of Virginia’s top players began their collegiate careers against Drexel, perhaps a result that the last two season openers have been against the Dragons.
Two of the most heralded players in recent times got off to quick starts in their collegiate debuts. and each had big games in UVa’s 20-5 win two years ago. Yevoli scored four times and had an assist, while Christmas scored on the first shot of his career and finished with three goals. Faceoff specialist won 62 percent of his attempts (8×13) in the game.
This year’s sophomore class was instrumental in a 19-8 victory last season. Midfielder scored his only career goal (on his first shot) and added an assist for a career-high two points, while fellow middie also tallied once. Attackman chipped in with an assist and won four of seven faceoffs (.571).
Gilbert Returns Home
The Drexel game gives sophomore midfielder a chance to play on the same field where some of his greatest athletic accomplishments took place. Playing for coach John Nostrant at the Haverford School, Gilbert was a two-time high school All-American. He served as team captain as a senior and was on several conference championship teams during his prep career.
A and D are also from the Philly area and will be greeted by many family and friends.
Seven Receive Preseason All-American Nod
Seven Cavaliers have been named to the 2004 Face-Off Yearbook preseason All-American squad. Three were named to the first-team-senior defenseman , senior goalie and junior attack . Junior faceoff specialist , junior attack and sophomore midfielder were second-team choices, while sophomore attack received honorable mention recognition.
A three-year starter, Hughes is one of the nation’s top defenders, who consistently shuts down the opposition’s top attackman. He was a second-team All-American last season and was named to the NCAA Championships All-Tournament team and the All-ACC Tournament team as UVa captured both championships. His 50 ground balls were second among ACC close defensemen in 2003.
Johnson reserved a place in the history of UVa athletics with his epic performance in last year’s NCAA Tournament, highlighted by dramatic efforts against Maryland and Johns Hopkins in the final four. The reigning USILA Player of the Year and Goalie of the Year, he made 205 saves last season with a .655 save percentage.
A dynamic attackman with tremendous speed and quickness, Christmas led the team with 36 goals last season while being matched up against some of the nation’s top defensemen. He was a second-team All-American and an All-ACC pick for the second year in a row.
Named the team’s most improved player, deVilliers was one of the nation’s leading faceoff men last spring. He was ninth nationally with a 58.8 winning percentage and led the country with a school-record 204 wins. He won more than 68 percent of his attempts on five occasions.
The ACC’s Rookie of the Year in 2002 when he led the league with 40 goals, Yevoli saw his role change a bit last season and led the conference with 26 assists. He was named a second-team All-American after sharing the team lead in scoring with 49 points.
Dixon is the only sophomore named to any of the first three teams. A member of the U.S. Under-19 team that captured the world championship last summer, he scored nine goals and added eight assists last season while playing on the first midfield.
Ward turned in a very productive campaign as one of the nation’s top freshmen. He finished with 46 points (26g, 20a) and was one of only two freshmen in the country to score at least 20 goals and add 20 assists. Twenty-four of his 26 goals came against ranked teams, the highest percentage on the team.
Virginia in Season Openers
The Cavaliers open their 71st season of play Saturday with a match-up against the Drexel Dragons. This is the third straight year they have opened vs. Drexel.
Virginia is 38-31-1 (.550) all-time in season openers. When the season opener is away, the Cavaliers have compiled an 11-16 (.407) record throughout the years.
This is the first time the Cavaliers have opened on the road since a 14-12 loss to Syracuse that began the 1999 championship season. UVa’s last win on the road in a season opener occurred in 1994 when UVa won at Navy 14-7.
