Men's Lacrosse Hosts UMBC in NCAA tournament

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VAThe University of Virginia has received a bid to the 2008 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship and will host UMBC in the first round Sunday (May 11) at 5 pm at Klckner Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPNU.

The tournament’s second seed, Virginia is 12-3 this season and currently ranked third in the coaches poll.

This is Virginia’s 31st tournament appearance overall, second behind Johns Hopkins (37). Virginia won the national championship two years ago and has received a bid in 15 of the last 16 seasons.

UMBC, currently ranked seventh in the coaches poll, is one of the hottest teams in the nation. After starting 1-3, UMBC has won 11 consecutive games and is 12-3 overall. The Retrievers gained an automatic bid with a 14-13 win over Albany in the championship game of the America East Tournament. In that game they rallied from a nine-goal deficit to win the league title. This is UMBC’s third consecutive appearance in the NCAA championship and its fifth overall in the Division I tournament; the Retrievers played in seven Division II tournaments from 1974-80.

Virginia owns a 12-2 all-time record against UMBC. The Cavaliers have won the last fifth meetings vs. the Retrievers, including a 20-9 win in 1996 in the most recent match-up between the two schools.

The winner of this game faces the winner of the Denver at Maryland game in the quarterfinals at Navy on Saturday (May 17).

Fans may purchase tickets beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday in person at the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office in Bryant Hall or by calling (800) 542-8821. Tickets can also be purchased online at virginiasports.com. Reserved seat tickets offering stadium chair seating under cover are $9 each; general admission tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for youth 18-and-under, seniors 60-and-over and students of participating schools with a valid student ID. Parking is $5.

The Ticket Office encourages all fans to purchase and pick up their tickets in advance to avoid long ticket sales and Will Call lines on game day.