Final RPI Rankings Show UVA's Impressive Campaign was Nation's Toughest Road

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CHARLOTESVILLE, Va. – The final RPI standings for the 2010 men’s lacrosse season were recently released and the Virginia men’s lacrosse program sits atop the list while completing one of the most impressive seasons in recent lacrosse memory.

In the report, the Cavaliers notched No. 1 standing in winning percentage (.8889), strength of schedule (.7106), road success (.8787), road RPI (.7158) and final RPI (.7158). UVa also was No. 3 in opponents’ strength of schedule (.5529), trailing only national champion Duke (.5738) and fellow ACC foe Maryland (.5738).

Virginia’s overall RPI was .0554 higher than the RPI’s No. 2 North Carolina, the greatest difference between anyone’s RPI mark and the team that follows them on the list. The closest separation in the Top 20 other than UVa is .0233, which is between No. 7 Princeton (.6061) and No. 8 Stony Brook (.5828).

All four schools in the ACC topped the final RPI. Following UVa and North Carolina was No. 3 Duke (.6486) and No. 4 Maryland (.6438). The ACC finished an impressive 40-2 in non-conference games with Notre Dame holding the two triumphs against the league, defeating Duke early in the season and Maryland in the NCAA Quarterfinal round.

Virginia went 16-2 on the year, the second-most wins for a season in program history, while also capturing the ACC Championship. The Cavaliers went 8-2 against teams seeded in the 2010 NCAA Tournament and 11-2 against all participants in the championship.

In comparison to the final RPI’s top 5 squads, including Syracuse, Virginia exceeded its counterparts drastically. North Carolina, No. 2 in the RPI, went 5-3 against NCAA Tournament participants faced and 3-3 against seeded programs. Duke, No. 3 in the RPI, went 6-4 against the NCAA Tournament field and 3-3 against seeded teams. Maryland, No. 4 in the RPI, went 4-4 against the NCAA Tournament field and 2-3 against seeded squads. Syracuse, No. 5 in the RPI, went 6-2 against the NCAA Championship field and 2-1 against seeded teams.

UVa’s two losses came at the hands of eventual national champion Duke, including a dramatic 14-13 defeat in the NCAA semifinal round as the winning goal was scored with 12 seconds left.

For 2011 Virginia returns five of its eight USILA All-Americans, as well as 11 of its 12 top scorers. Headlining that group is honorable mention All-American Chris Bocklet, who became the first Cavalier to reach 50 goals (53) since Doug Knight’s 56 in 1996. Six-of-nine starters return, as well as goalie Adam Ghitelman, a third-team All-American.