Third-Ranked Cavaliers Host No. 8 Michigan in Season Opener

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – For the second consecutive year, No. 3 Virginia (0-0) hosts No. 8 Michigan (0-0) in its season opener at Klöckner Stadium on Saturday (Feb. 10). Opening faceoff from is set for noon on ACC network and 98.9-FM/1070-AM WINA.

Both teams advanced to the 2023 NCAA Tournament quarterfinals in Albany, N.Y. last season. The Wolverines’ No. 8 ranking in the most recent USILA coaches poll marks the highest ranking by a UVA opponent in a season opener since 2019, when the Cavaliers faced then-No. 4 Loyola.

PROMOTIONS

• Virginia will be giving away UVA lacrosse blankets on a first come, first served basis (inventory is limited).
• Blanket distribution will be at the marketing table located at the bottom of the grandstands.

SEASON OVERVIEW

• This season, the Cavaliers will host eight regular-season games at Klöckner Stadium, including two ACC contests against North Carolina (April 6) and Notre Dame (April 27).
• Virginia returns seven starters from its 2023 roster, including two-time Tewaaraton Award finalist Connor Shellenberger, 2023 USILA Preseason All-American Payton Cormier, 2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year Cole Kastner and 2022 ACC Freshman of the Year Matthew Nunes.

SERIES HISTORY

• Virginia and Michigan squared off for the first time in last year’s season opener, which was also held at Klöckner Stadium.
• The Cavaliers defeated U-M 17-13 and never trailed in the game, but only led by one goal [13-12] entering the fourth quarter. Payton Cormier (5g, 2a), Connor Shellenberger (3g, 3a) and Thomas McConvey (3g, 2a) led the Hoos offensively, while Matthew Nunes tallied 15 saves in the win.
• Virginia held the Wolverines’ extra-man unit scoreless on four opportunities.
• During his tenure as head coach at Brown University, Lars Tiffany defeated Michigan twice by a score of 22-9 and 22-8 in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
• In addition to the Wolverines, UVA will also challenge Big Ten foes, Ohio State (Feb. 25), Johns Hopkins (March 2) and Maryland (March 16) later this season.

CONNOR SHELLENBERGER IS ELITE

• Virginia attackman Connor Shellenberger returns for his final collegiate season in 2024.
• Shellenberger guided the Hoos to Championship Weekend last season after leading the nation in assists (3.38/gm).
• Shellenberger, who enters 2024 with 140 career assists, needs just 20 more to break Tim Whiteley’s all-time assists record.
• With 239 points, Shellenberger needs just 38 points to break Matt Moore’s program record of 276 points.
• Shellenberger is one of just two Cavaliers to garner USILA First Team All-America honors, the other being former defenseman Ken Clausen.
• In addition to being a Tewaaraton finalist for the second time of his career in 2023, Shellenberger garnered NCAA All-Tournament honors after combining for 11 goals and 11 assists in the Cavaliers’ three tournament games last season.

PAYTON CORMIER ON UVA’S CAREER GOALS LIST

• Payton Cormier, who has led UVA in goals the past two seasons needs just seven goals to break Doug Knight’s UVA career goals record.
• Among all of UVA’s 100-career goal scorers, Cormier is the only one to average at least 2.89 goals per game.
• Cormier is the only player in program history to log two 50-goal seasons, having recorded 52 goals last year and 50 goals in 2022.
• In 15 appearances in 2023, he recorded 12 multi-goal games, including 10 hat tricks.

ON THE HORIZON

• The Cavaliers travel to Richmond (0-1) on Saturday (Feb. 17).
• Opening faceoff from Robins Stadium is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.