No. 3 Virginia Welcomes No. 20 Ohio State Sunday

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – In search of its third consecutive win, No. 3 Virginia (2-0) hosts No. 20 Ohio State (4-0) Sunday afternoon (Feb. 25). Opening faceoff from Klöckner Stadium is set for 1 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

For the first time since 2001, the Hoos begin their season by facing three ranked opponents. UVA and the Buckeyes are also two of 15 unbeaten Division-I teams.

NUMBERS TO KNOW

1 – In just his third season, goalie Matthew Nunes (26-8) needs just one victory in net to tie for seventh on UVA’s career wins list.

23 – For the first time in 23 years, Virginia’s first three opponents of the season are ranked in the USILA coach’s poll.

774 – Jack Boyden (320), Connor Shellenberger (248) and Payton Cormier (206) have combined for 774 career points. No other NCAA team (regardless of Division) currently has at least three active players on its roster combine for at least 774 career points.

LAST TIME OUT

• In its first road game of the season, Virginia scored four of the game’s last five goals to grind out a 14-10 win over then-No. 16 Richmond last Saturday (Feb. 17).
• The Cavaliers surrendered the first two goals of the game and were flagged for six penalties, but UVA forced eight Spider turnovers in the fourth quarter.
• Connor Shellenberger (2g, 5a) recorded a game-high seven points and Payton Cormier (3g, 1a) became UVA’s all-time career goals leader.
• Anthony Ghobriel finished 15 for 24 at the faceoff X.

SERIES HISTORY

• Virginia leads the all-time series over the Buckeyes, which began in 1968, 7-1.
• The Cavaliers won the first six meetings between the two teams, a win streak that spanned from 1968 until 2013.
• OSU claimed its first win of the series in an 11-10 decision after 103-minute lightning delay at Klöckner Stadium on March 16, 2013. The Cavaliers had a chance to force overtime, but former OSU goalie Greg Dutton stopped Nick O’Reily’s shot from the crease with five seconds remaining.
• The two teams met in the first-ever neutral site meeting last year at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples on Feb. 25, 2023. Payton Cormier scored a career-high seven goals, which tied for second in UVA single-game history.
• Virginia was ranked No. 1 at the time and the Buckeyes were No. 9.
• Last year’s contest was also UVA’s first-ever held in the state of Florida.
• UVA has only faced the Buckeyes in true road games twice, but in separate venues in Columbus. The Cavaliers’ first road game against OSU was in 2000, a 13-7 victory from Jesse Owens Stadium, and an 11-9 win at Ohio Stadium in 2012.

THE CAVALIERS AT KLÖCKNER STADIUM

• Virginia owns a 174-45 (.795) all-time record at Klöckner Stadium, including a 1-0 record in 2024, and has won 20 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 5.36 goals.
• Virginia is 48-13 (.787) all-time at Klöckner Stadium under head coach Lars Tiffany.
• UVA is also 14-3 all-time at Klöckner Stadium in NCAA Tournament contests.
• Lacrosse debuted in Klöckner Stadium in 1993.

HOOS AMONG THE NATION’S STATISTICAL LEADERS

• For games played through Feb. 20, Virginia is second in the nation in assists (12.00/gm), third in clearing percentage (.961), fourth in points (28.5/gm) and sixth in scoring offense (16.5/gm) and turnovers (13.00/gm).
• The Cavaliers’ clearing percentage also leads all ACC teams.
• Virginia is currently one of 15 unbeaten teams nationally.
• Payton Cormier (4.00/gm) is currently ninth in the nation in goals per game. Faceoff specialist Anthony Ghobriel (.638) is currently 16th in faceoff win percentage. Goalie Matthew Nunes (12.50/gm) is currently 18th and leads the ACC in saves per game.

CORMIER, WAYER NAB ACC WEEKLY HONORS

• For their performances against Richmond, Payton Cormier and Ben Wayer were named ACC Co-Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively.
• The announcement marks Cormier’s fourth career ACC weekly honor and Wayer’s first.
• Cormier scored three goals and set the program’s all-time goals record in the win.
• For the second consecutive week, Wayer collected ground balls and added one caused turnover.
• Wayer also played a pivotal role in the Spiders’ six failed clears, four of which occurred in the fourth quarter.
• Wayer was also a key contributor on UVA’s faceoff unit, which won 15 of the game’s 26 total faceoffs, including 10 of 14 in the second half.
• Additionally, UR’s starting midfield line combined for just two goals.

ON THE HORIZON

• The Cavaliers return to Klöckner Stadium on Saturday (March 2) to host Johns Hopkins in a battle for the Doyle Smith Cup.
• Opening faceoff is set for 1 p.m. on ACC Network.