Matthew Nunes
Matthew Nunes Pronunciation
TIFFANY ON NUNES
2025 – “Our starting goalie for the past three seasons returns for his final year rejuvenated and energized. Matt has owned our crease throughout his tenure here, and he has been the backbone of so many critical victories. We have evolved both our Clearing and Riding phases during his time, knowing full well he is a field general with extensive 10v10, big picture intelligence who can keenly make the necessary adjustments. The competition coming from Kyle is welcomed by him, as Matt’s maturity allows him to understand that it is only raising the bar for his own game.” 2024 – “Matt has established himself as a leader of both our defense and the team as a whole. He emits both a confidence in the cage and an inquisitiveness to ask questions and learn more. How did Matt perform against the strongest strength of schedule in the nation in 2023? Time and time again, Matt displayed to his teammates and the rest of the lacrosse world that he is a stellar goalie who can withstand firestorms and is very comfortable quarterbacking our clearing game while also igniting and executing our 10-Man ride.” 2023 – “What a first year Matt had here in Charlottesville as our starting goalie. Anytime our staff is asked about rookie jitters or young mistakes we had to endure from our goalie in 2022, we have been perplexed by the question: we saw nothing of its kind. Matt took ownership of the crease and his end of the field, and his strength of character and steadfast play gave the men in front of him more confidence. Could Matt become a bit comfortable as an athlete after such a strong start? The reality is just the opposite: the man loves seeing extra shots and watching film with Kip Turner.” 2022 –”Has made the transition from high school to college as seamless as possible due to an exceptional work ethos, focus and talent. Quick hands and footwork allow him to make brow-raising saves. A student of the game in the truest sense, he is leaning on Kip Turner and film work in his quest to be a starter as a first-year.”
2024
- ACC Defensive Player of the Week (April 2)
- USILA Team of the Week (March 26)
- ACC Defensive Player of the Week (Feb. 27)
- USILA Team of the Week (Feb. 27)
- Appeared in goal for the Cavaliers in all 18 games
- Tallied a 52.7% save percentage on the season, making 176 total saves
- Recorded 17 saves and allowed only seven goals in win over No. 20 Ohio State (Feb. 25)
- ACC Academic Honor Roll
2023
- Finished the season 13-4 overall in 16 starts
- Set a UVA single-season record with 213 saves
- Led the ACC in save percentage (.551) in league matchups
- Recorded 17 saves in UVA’s NCAA semifinal matchup against Notre Dame (May 27)
- Won back-to-back NCAA Tournament games over Richmond (May 13) and Georgetown (May 20)
- USILA Team of the Week (May 2)
- ACC Defensive Player of the Week (May 2)
- Recorded a career-best 19 saves in his second win of the season over No. 1 Notre Dame (April 30)
- Added career-high eight ground balls in the Cavaliers’ second game against the Irish
- Made a then-career high of 17 saves at No. 2 Duke (April 15)
- ACC Academic Honor Roll
2022
- ACC Freshman of the Year (May 12)
- VaSID Rookie of the Year & All-State Team (June 29)
- Started in 15 of UVA’s 16 games and logged 831:27 in net
- Recorded a UVA freshman-record 159 saves
- Averaged 11.55 goals-against per game
- Registered double-digit saves in eight of his 15 appearances
- Tied his season high of 16 saves in UVA’s NCAA Tournament First Round win at eighth-seeded Brown (May 15)
- First UVA freshman goalie to win an NCAA Tournament game since 1999 (May 15)
- ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Week (April 12)
- ACC Defensive Player of the Week (March 29)
- USILA Team-of-the-Week selection (March 29)
- Made 14 saves and only allowed five goals in 58:22 vs. Notre Dame (March 26)
- ACC Defensive Player of the Week (Feb. 15)
- Notched 16 saves, including one with 20 seconds left, to help Virginia fend off High Point (Feb. 13)
- Made eight saves and earned his first career win in his first career start in UVA’s season-opening win over Air Force (Feb. 5)
- Ranked the No. 1 goalie and No. 5 overall prospect in the nation according to Inside Lacrosse’s Power 100 Incoming Freshmen Rankings
High school
- No. 3 overall prospect and No. 1 goalie in the nation, according to Inside Lacrosse
- Two-time Team MVP
- 2021 All-District MVP
- Cody Soder Award winner for two years
- 2021 US All-American
- 2021 Under Armor All-American
- 2021 National All-Star Game Member
- 2018 state champion
- Three-time City Champion (2018-19, 2021)
Personal
- Son of Robin and Chris Nunes
- Sister Mackenzie Nunes players volleyball for Springfield College
- Majoring in Government with a Minor in Leadership
- Enjoys skiing, fishing, biking, and playing basketball and beach volleyball
- Recipient of the 2022-23 Thomas C. Rixey Endowed Memorial Lacrosse Scholarship