Top-Ranked Hoos Welcome No. 3 Maryland for HEADstrong Foundation Game

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Undefeated and top-ranked Virginia (6-0) hosts No. 3 Maryland (4-2) at Klöckner Stadium for the first time since 2013 on Saturday (March 18). Opening faceoff is set for 2 p.m. as Anish Shroff (play-by-play) and Paul Carcaterra (analyst) will have the call on ACC Network.

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

PARKING INFORMATION

• Parking for lacrosse fans is available in the JPJ South and West Lots.

HEADstrong FOUNDATION

• Saturday’s contest will serve as UVA’s HEADstrong Foundation game. The HEADstrong Foundation is a non-profit organization that offers financial, residential, and emotional support to families affected by cancer.
• HEADstrong founder Nick Colleluori played lacrosse at Hofstra as a freshman in 2005 before being diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a blood cancer affecting the lymphatic system. Former UVA captain and three-time first team All-American Ken Clausen (2007-10) currently serves as National Director of Attack Cancer.
• During Saturday’s game, UVA players will wear special laces in their cleats to show support for HEADstrong Foundation and those affected by cancer.

LAST TIME OUT

• The Cavaliers improved to 6-0 on the season, including 4-0 at home, with its 19-12 win over Towson last Saturday (March 11).
• With four goals and six assists, Connor Shellenberger tied his career high of 10 points, which he previously achieved in UVA’s 25-21 win over then-No. 18 Harvard (Feb. 18). Xander Dickson (4g, 2a) recorded six points for the third straight game and Thomas McConvey (3g, 2a) contributed five points.
• Virginia won the ground ball game, 46-40, and forced six Tiger failed clears, while UVA had just one. Towson goalie Evan Long tallied 20 saves, a career best.

SERIES HISTORY

• Maryland leads the all-time series, which began in 1926, 49-46.
• The two teams last squared off at Klöckner Stadium on March 30, 2013, the final ACC regular-season meeting between the Terps and UVA in Charlottesville. Maryland won, 9-7.
• The last time the Cavaliers defeated Maryland at Klöckner Stadium was on March 28, 2009, when the two teams went to seven overtime periods – the longest game in NCAA history. Brian Carroll scored the game-winning goal to seal the victory for the Hoos.
• The Cavaliers and Maryland have met nine times in NCAA Tournament history, including the last three consecutive tournaments.
• UVA and the Terrapins have gone head-to-head in NCAA championship games twice – in 2011 and 2021 – as the Cavaliers won both matchups, 9-7 and 17-16, respectively.

LARS TIFFANY VS. JOHN TILLMAN ALL-TIME

• Virginia’s Lars Tiffany and Maryland’s John Tillman are two of the most accomplished head coaches of all-time and have gone head-to-head eight times as head coaches.
• Tiffany is 5-3 all-time against Tillman in matchups when the two are head coaches. While Tiffany leads the series, Tillman’s average margin of victory is 1.75 goals.
• The last five meetings between the two teams have been at neutral sites, including four NCAA Tournament games.
• Tiffany and Tillman are two of just four active Division-I head coaches with at least two NCAA Tournament titles.

THE CAVALIERS AT KLÖCKNER STADIUM

• Virginia is currently on a 13-game win streak at Klöckner Stadium, a streak that began in 2021.
• Virginia owns a 170-43 (.798) all-time record at Klöckner Stadium, including a 4-0 record in 2023, and has won 21 of its last 25 games played at the historic edifice.
• The Cavaliers’ average margin of victory in their last 25 games at Klöckner Stadium is 5.76 goals.
• Virginia is 44-11 (.800) all-time at Klöckner Stadium under head coach Lars Tiffany.
• UVA is also 13-3 all-time at Klöckner Stadium in the NCAA Tournament.
• Lacrosse debuted in Klöckner Stadium in 1993.

VIRGINIA IN THE POLLS

• At No. 1 in this week’s USILA Coaches poll, Virginia has been ranked in the top 5 of the poll in 317 weeks all-time.
• UVA has been ranked in the top 10 in 471 polls all-time.
• UVA has been ranked No. 1 in the nation in 76 all-time polls, including in the most recent edition of the poll.
• The USILA Poll began in 1973.

CAVALIERS AMONG THE NATION’S STATISTICAL LEADERS

• One of three unbeaten teams in Division I, Virginia currently leads the nation in assists (13.33/gm), ground balls (42.50/gm), man-up offense (.692), points (33.50/gm), scoring offense (20.17/gm) and shot percentage (.412). The Cavaliers are also second in the nation in scoring margin (8.00/gm) and third in clearing percentage (.941).
• Connor Shellenberger leads the nation in assists (4.00/gm) and is second in points (5.83/gm). Xander Dickson is No. 3 in the country in goals (4.17/gm), No. 7 in points (5.33/gm) and No. 2 in shot percentage (.610). Cade Saustad is seventh in caused turnovers (2.00/gm) and Petey LaSalla is 11th in ground balls (8.67/gm).
• Note: NCAA leaders list requires players play in 75% of their team’s games.

CONNOR SHELLENBERGER IS ELITE

• Connor Shellenberger, who is in his third season at UVA, is arguably the most-accomplished active player in college lacrosse.
• In addition to being a two-time USILA first team All-American (2021-22), Shellenberger became UVA’s 11th Tewaaraton Award finalist last season.
• Shellenberger currently leads all active Division-I players in career assists (110), is second in assists per game (2.75) and third in points per game (4.75).
• This year, Shellenberger was crowned a first team preseason All-American by the USILA, Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse Magazine, and the top returning player in 2023 by Inside Lacrosse.
• This offseason, Shellenberger was invited to try out for a spot on the U.S. National Team for the 2023 World Championships.
• In 2022, he led UVA in points (76) and assists (44) and finished second in goals (32).
• In 2021, Shellenberger was sensational in the NCAA Tournament, guiding the Hoos to the program’s seventh NCAA championship and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
• In 40 career appearances, Shellenberger has posted at least one point in 39 contests and has recorded multiple assists in 32 career games.
• Shellenberger has tallied a career-best 10 points on two occasions this season: against then-No. 18 Harvard (3g, 7a) and Towson (4g, 6a).

GOING STREAKING

• Newcomer Thomas McConvey, a transfer in the midfield from the University of Vermont, is currently riding a 58-game point streak, which began on Feb. 1, 2019.
• McConvey has registered at least one point in every game of his career.
• His 58-game point streak leads the nation among all active players.
• During his streak, McConvey has amassed 139 goals and 59 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 open ACC play on the road at Notre Dame (5-0) on Saturday (March 25).
• Opening faceoff from Arlotta Stadium is set for noon on ESPNU.