No. 1 Virginia Travels to No. 11 Johns Hopkins in Clash for Doyle Smith Cup

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – No. 1 Virginia (4-0) travels to No. 11 Johns Hopkins (4-2) for the Cavaliers’ first true road contest of 2023 in a clash for the Doyle Smith Cup on Tuesday (March 7). Opening faceoff from Homewood Field is set for 4 p.m. on ESPN+.

Tuesday’s matchup will also be broadcast on WINA (1070 AM/98.9 FM).

For the fourth consecutive week, the Cavaliers are ranked No. 1 in all three polls, USILA, Inside Lacrosse and Nike/USA Lacrosse Magazine.

SERIES HISTORY

• The Blue Jays lead the all-time series over UVA, 61-33-1.
• Dating back to 1904, Tuesday’s matchup marks the 96th meeting between the UVA and Hopkins. The two teams met at least once every season from 1948-2019.
• Virginia has not faced any opponent more than Hopkins in program history.
• Four of the last 10 meetings have gone to overtime. UVA is 3-1 in such contests.
• In last year’s meeting at Klöckner Stadium, Virginia tied for its largest margin of victory (19-8) in the series as Payton Cormier (6g), Connor Shellenberger (3g, 5a) and Cole Kastner (5ct) stood out for the Hoos.

LAST TIME OUT

• Last Saturday (March 4) at Klöckner Stadium, the Cavaliers scored the first eight goals of the game and later tallied 10 straight scores in UVA’s 25-8 rout over Richmond.
• Xander Dickson (6g), Payton Cormier (3g, 3a), Petey LaSalla (19-26 FO) and Cade Saustad (6 GBs) led the effort for UVA.
• The Cavaliers collected 53 ground balls in the win, the most by UVA in a single game since scooping 59 against Utah in 2021. After this past weekend’s slate of games, Virginia leads the nation in ground balls (41.75/gm).

DOYLE SMITH CUP (EST. 2006)

• Upon the Doyle Smith Cup’s inaugural matchup in 2006, Virginia and Johns Hopkins joined together to honor E. Doyle Smith, Jr., for his lifetime of contributions to the lacrosse programs at both schools and on the national level with the annual winner laying claim to the cup.
• Smith served as team manager and statistician for Johns Hopkins under coach Bob Scott from 1963-1968.
• He enrolled at UVA to pursue a doctorate in the fall of 1968, and became the University’s first full-time assistant sports information director, a position he held for 31 years until his retirement in 1999, serving as the lacrosse team’s publicist for four head coaches—Buddy Beardmore, Glenn Thiel, Jim Adams and Dom Starsia.
• On the national level, Smith was one of the nation’s foremost authorities on the sport as his name is synonymous with the game’s history and record keeping.
• He is credited with writing the original manuscript that later became the framework for the current NCAA statisticians’ manual for men’s lacrosse.
• He served as the information director compiling the weekly rankings and statistics for the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) from 1973-95 and twice received its Man of the Year Award. The USILA media award bears his name.
• In 2000, he was elected to the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame and is believed to be the only individual inducted who never played or coached the game at some level.
• Smith passed away in June 2004, not long after the 2004 national championship game.
• With last year’s 19-8 win at Klöckner Stadium, Virginia retained possession of the Doyle Smith Cup and improved to 9-6 in such contests, dating back to the inaugural matchup in 2006.

VIRGINIA IN THE POLLS

• No. 1 Virginia has been ranked in the top 5 of the USILA Coaches poll in 316 weeks all-time.
• UVA has been ranked in the top 10 in 470 polls all-time, including in the most recent edition of the poll.
• UVA has been ranked No. 1 in the nation in 75 all-time polls, including in the most recent edition of the poll.
• The USILA Poll began in 1973.

GOING STREAKING

• Newcomer Thomas McConvey, a transfer in the midfield from the University of Vermont, is currently riding a 56-game point streak, which began on Feb. 1, 2019.
• McConvey has registered at least one point in every game of his career.
• His 56-game point streak leads the nation among all active players.
• During his streak, McConvey has amassed 135 goals and 54 assists.
• Also riding a substantial point streak is UVA attackman Payton Cormier, who has recorded at least one point in his last 33 games.
• Cormier’s 33-game point streak is currently the sixth longest in the nation. During his streak, which began on March 6, 2021, Cormier has registered 119 points (99g, 20a).

ON THE HORIZON

• The Cavaliers return to Klöckner Stadium on Saturday (March 11) to host Towson (1-4) at 4 p.m. on ACC Network.