Virginia Men's Lacrosse Names 2006 Captains

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Oct. 18, 2005

Charlottesville, Va. – University of Virginia men’s lacrosse coach Dom Starsia announces defenseman Mike Culver, midfielder J.J. Morrissey and Matt Ward have been selected team captains for the 2006 season.

Culver, a senior from Ridgewood, N.J., enters his third season as a starter on close defense. Last season he was a third-team All-American and an All-ACC selection after shutting down some of the nation’s leading attackmen. He snared 40 ground balls, third among defensemen in the ACC.

Morrissey, a senior from Winchester, Mass., has been one of the team’s most underrated performers throughout his career. Primarily a short-stick defensive midfielder early in his career, he expanded his role on both ends of the field a year ago. He scored six goals and tallied seven assists for 13 total points. Morrissey was sixth in the ACC in ground balls with an average of 3.4 per game.

Ward, a senior from Oakton, Va., is a captain for the second year in a row. He earned second-team All-American honors last spring after leading the team in goals (38) and points (49). He was 10th in the country in goals and has led the team the last two seasons. His 97 career goals are tied for 10th in UVa history.

“I am very proud to announce our captains for the 2006 season. We have an outstanding senior class and we welcome the leadership that is often delivered from the most unexpected sources but, these three young men exhibit the finest qualities we have come to expect from experienced Virginia student-athletes,” said Starsia. “Mike, J.J. and Matt are among the leading players at their positions on a national level, top students, active in the community and leaders on the field and in the locker room. The captains always play a most important role in the development of a team and it will a pleasure to work closely with Mike, J.J. and Matt as we consider our championship goals for the coming season.”