No. 6 Virginia Cruises Past Robert Morris, 16-7
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – No. 6 Virginia (4-1) leaped out to a 9-1 lead and never looked back as the Cavaliers cruised to a 16-7 victory over Robert Morris (1-4) at Klöckner Stadium Tuesday evening (March 5).
UVA was led by McCabe Millon, who finished with a game-high seven points on four goals and three assists in just three quarters of action. Millon recorded a hat trick in the first two minutes of play after scoring Virginia’s first three goals of the evening. Payton Cormier tallied five goals to record his third hat trick of the year.
Defensively, the Cavaliers were sparked by George Fulton, who tallied five ground balls and three caused turnovers, both of which are career bests. Matthew Nunes (4-1) earned the win and recorded eight saves in the first half before Kyle Morris relieved Nunes to start the second half. Morris finished with eight saves and allowed only two goals in just over 26 minutes of action.
The Cavaliers were much improved at the faceoff X from last game. UVA won 16 of the game’s 26 total faceoffs. Both Thomas Colucci (9-13 FO) and Matthew DeSouza (7-13 FO) finished above 50 percent at the center X.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Millon’s first two goals were unassisted and his third came on a pass from Ryan Colsey (2g, 1a) at the 13:04 mark of the first. After the Colonials found the back of the net off a UVA turnover, Millon sparked a 6-0 scoring spree that trickled into the second quarter. The Cavaliers led 6-1 at the end of the first after firing off 20 shots, 12 of which were on net.
Colsey, Connor Shellenberger (1g, 3a) and Griffin Schutz (1g) scored the first three goals of period No. 2. RMU ripped its only man-up goal of the night – despite four opportunities – in the back half of the second. Cormier and Truitt Sunderland found the back of the net 20 seconds apart and another UVA turnover led to yet another Colonial goal – this one as time expired in the first half. The Cavaliers led 11-4 at the break. Virginia committed 10 turnovers in the second quarter alone.
Morris checked into the game to start the third. Once again, UVA scored the first three goals of the half under two minutes in, all three of which were at the hands of Cormier to give UVA a 14-4 advantage. Defenseman Cole Kastner was charged for a 1:00 personal foul (slash), but the Colonials’ man-up unit failed to get off a shot on its third EMO of the game. UVA led 15-6 at the end of the third as the Cavaliers began to cycle in their reserves.
Both teams only netted one goal apiece in the fourth quarter. In his second collegiate game, first year Chase Band scored his first career goal with 5:07 remaining. UVA netminder Colin Hook relieved Morris with approximately 3:45 left in Tuesday’s contest. The Colonials scored the game’s final goal with 15 seconds remaining.
WITH THE WIN…
- Virginia improved to 5-0 in the all-time series with Robert Morris.
- All five meetings against the Colonials have been held at Klöckner Stadium.
- UVA is off to a 4-1 start or better under head coach Lars Tiffany, who is in his eighth season at UVA, for the seventh time.
NOTES
- The Cavaliers collected a season-high 51 ground balls, also the most since scooping 53 in UVA’s regular-season win over Richmond in 2023.
- McCabe Millon recorded a season-high seven points on four goals and three assists. In five games played, Millon has 15 goals and eight assists.
- With five goals, Payton Cormier recorded his 33rd career hat trick.
- In his third collegiate appearance in net, Kyle Morris recorded a career-best eight saves and surrendered only two goals in just over 26:00 of action.
- Defenseman George Fulton finished five ground balls and three caused turnovers, both of which are career highs.
- Senior midfielder Jack Walshe made this third collegiate appearance.
- Freshman midfielder Chase Band scored his first career goal. It was also the Cavaliers’ 16th and final goal of the game.
UP NEXT
The Cavaliers travel to Towson (4-2) on Saturday (March 9). Opening faceoff from Johnny Unitas Stadium is set for noon on Lacrosse TV.