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Virginia journeys deeper into the hefty part of its schedule Sunday afternoon at Klckner Stadium against No. 4 Cornell in its most stern test of the home schedule so far. The game is scheduled to start at 2:30 pm. WINA AM1070, the flagship station for Virginia athletics, is providing live play-by-play coverage. A video webcast of the game is also available at ACCSelect.com.
The Cavaliers moved to No. 1 in the polls following last week’s thrilling 13-12 win over previously top-ranked Syracuse at the Carrier Dome. Shamel Bratton led the way for Virginia with three goals and one assist and was named the ACC Player of the Week.
This week doesn’t get any easier against another foe from upstate New York. Cornell is 2-0 on the season; including a last minute 9-8 win over Army a week ago.
“Cornell is not a traditional rival for us,” said Virginia head coach Dom Starsia. “During all of my years at Brown when Cornell was in its heyday winning national championships in the 1970s and 80s, I saw it up close and personal. This is a very good lacrosse team and I think that fans that find their way out to Klckner Stadium Sunday are going to be in for a real treat.”
The games between Virginia and Syracuse have a reputation of being offensive shootouts and this match-up is likely to feature some of the game characteristics. Virginia is averaging more than 14 goals per game, while Cornell is close behind at 13.5.
“This a terrific lacrosse team with a couple of the very top players in the game,” said Starsia. “Max Seibald, John Glynn, Ryan Hurley and some of these guys that Cornell has, this a terrific lacrosse team and this will be a very exciting lacrosse game.”
The teams differ when it comes to their offensive styles. Virginia relies on its formidable attack of Garrett Billings, Danny Glading and Steele Stanwick, while Cornell’s starting midfield of Glynn, Seibald and Rocco Romero (all seniors) provide the spark for the Ivy League squad. In its annual ratings of each unit, Inside Lacrosse tabbed the UVa attack as the nation’s best, while giving the top nod in the midfield to the Big Red.
“You have to be very impressed with them offensively,” said Starsia. “In their last game against Army, who is a very good team defensively, Cornell generated (55) shots. They only get nine goals, which are enough to win, but the Army goalie absolutely stood on his head. I’m sure Cornell would like to have back a couple that missed the cage. They didn’t capitalize on as many as they would have liked to, but the game was not nearly as close as the score would indicate.”
Seibald has been a first-team All-American the last two seasons, while Glynn was a second-teamer a year ago. Seibald’s streak of 36 consecutive games with at least one point is the third-longest active streak in the country.
Like Virginia’s midfield, the Cornell attack can also put points on the board. Junior Ryan Hurley leads the team with seven goals, while freshman Rob Pannell heads the list with six assists and 10 total points.
The Big Red is in a bit of transition on defense. Senior Kyle Harer is in his first year as a starter in goal and Starsia, no doubt, would like to be able to put some pressure on them with his offense.
Glading got off to a slow start, but has begun to back on track offensively with eight goals and four assists in the last two games. Billings remains the nation’s leading scorer with 19 goals, while midfielder Shamel Bratton broke loose for four goals to pace the offense in the win over Syracuse.
“I don’t think I am going to have any trouble convincing our team to be ready,” said Starsia. “But if you are a fan of the game, this is not one that you want to take for granted. If you can get to Charlottesville on Sunday, you should be here for what could promises to be a great day, I think.”
Quick Sticks
** This is the first regular season meeting since 1971. The teams have met five times in the NCAA Tournament, most recently in the quarterfinals in 2002 with Virginia winning 11-10.
** Virginia is 4-2 against the Big Red all-time. Three of Virginia’s wins have been by one goal, while both of Cornell’s victories have been by at least seven. Despite winning four of the six, Virginia has been outscored 67-59 in the series.
** Virginia’s 60 wins since 2005 are the second-most wins in the country (Duke leads the way with 61)
** Chad Gaudet is eighth in the country in ground balls and 16th in face-off winning percentage
** Adam Ghitelman is seventh nationally in goals allowed average and 25th in save percentage.
** Glynn and Seibald join Cavaliers Ken Clausen and Danny Glading among a group of 12 active college players selected to try out for the U.S. National Team this summer.