The Rotelli-Starsia relationship dates back to the spring of 1974. The Pete, not Chris, Rotelli-Starsia relationship, that is. Dom Starsia, who is in the midst of his 11th season as coach of the Virginia men's lacrosse program, met Chris Rotelli's father on the freshman lacrosse team at Brown University. That initial meeting developed into later ties between both members' families.
"I watched Chris grow up in Rhode Island," said Starsia, who coached Brown's lacrosse squad from 1983-1992 before he took over the Cavalier men's team. "And it's been sort of a fairy-tale for me to have a kid from Rhode Island, which isn't a typical breeding ground for U.Va. lacrosse players, come here and have his career work out for him the way it has and emerge to become the player that he is."
Now Rotelli is arguably one of the best midfielders in the country. After a successful 2002 campaign, when he finished with 24 goals, a career-high 10 assists and became the only first-team All-American from his squad, Rotelli currently leads the team with 18 points. His 13 goals share the lead with midfielder A.J. Shannon, a fellow co-captain and senior. Oh yeah, and let's not forget that he's one of 16 leading candidates for the prestigious Tewaaraton Trophy -- college lacrosse's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
But Rotelli doesn't harp on his individual accomplishments but rather worries about the overall team's performance and what he can do to contribute to top-ranked Virginia's best start since the 1996-97 season.
"My goals this season are more team-based than individual, and I'm just really focused on doing anything necessary to help the team win," Rotelli said. "If that means me taking less shots and being more accountable for the way the offense works as a whole, then that's what I'm going to do."
As one of three captains, Rotelli has filled a leadership role left behind by Conor Gill, who graduated last year as one of Virginia's most distinguished leaders and prolific scorers.
"His biggest asset is being a captain," Shannon said. "He's very vocal and gives pre-game speeches to really get the guys pumped up. He's just a vocal leader and shows the younger guys what they're doing wrong. He also has a great work ethic and leads by example."
You would be hard-pressed to find anyone, who has witnessed Rotelli's athleticism on both the defensive and offensive ends of the field, criticize this extremely talented midfielder's leadership and play -- other than himself.
"I've been happy with the way I've been playing," the Rhode Island native said. "I've taken opportunities when they've presented themselves and I think I've scored more points at this point in the season than any prior season. I've had a couple big games so far, but I don't think I'm where I want to be so far."
That might be so, but after Rotelli was named the Warrior/Inside Lacrosse National Player of the Week following his career-high four-goal performance in a 10-7 victory over Princeton on March 8, you might wonder how much more he could improve.
"Chris has developed into more of a complete lacrosse player this season," Starsia said. "He's always been good on the offensive end, but because he doesn't have to shoulder the entire offensive load, he's been able to broaden and work on his defensive game."
Rotelli's "complete game" has greatly contributed to Virginia's No. 1 status and will be instrumental in an attempt to win its first NCAA national championship since the 1999 squad.
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