If the Manhattan Jaspers were expecting a hospitable welcome to accompany the warm weather during their trip south, they forgot to mention it to Virginia. Behind the return of senior attackman John Christmas, the Virginia men's lacrosse team beat Manhattan College 18-2 Saturday at the Turf Field.
Christmas, who did not play in last Sunday's win over Drexel due to a "team matter", scored three goals while adding one assist.
Unlike their previous contests this season, Virginia finally was able to put together a complete game on both ends of the field.
"I thought it was the best second half we played since the preseason started," Virginia coach Dom Starsia said. "We raised the level of our play in the second half, and we haven't done that yet, so that was a good thing."
For the Cavaliers, there were almost too many good things to count. There was the balanced offensive production, with juniors Matt Ward and Kyle Dixon each adding four points; there was midfielder Jack deVilliers dominating the face-offs, winning 12 of 15; and there was the stifling Virginia defense, which maintained a shutout well into the fourth quarter.
The Virginia offense took a quarter to get in gear, mustering only three goals during the first 15 minutes, but the Cavaliers scored four goals over a five-minute stretch in the second quarter which led to a 7-0 halftime cushion. Following the intermission, the attack began to work in sync with the unit of Christmas, Ward and freshman Ben Rubeor, providing a preview of things to come for Virginia fans over the rest of the season.
"[The attackmen] have to set the tone out there," Christmas said. "We have to be the quarterback. I felt we did a really good job today, all three of us."
Midway through the third quarter, Ward tallied the 100th point of his career at Virginia, a moment that was negated by his turnover-prone performance.
"For the past two games I've been a walking turnover," Ward said. "I just have to get it out of my head and keep playing hard. I would've taken back all my goals today for no turnovers."
Starsia shared Ward's view.
"Matt, he makes plays. He's that kind of player," he said. "But his game isn't quite there yet. He missed a couple of weeks early."
Virginia's pair of goalies continued their outstanding play against the Jaspers, allowing only two goals and recording seven saves. Michael Petit started and Kip Turner entered in the third quarter, maintaining the two-goalie system. While the goalies deserve credit, the defense limited Manhattan to just 22 shots overall, compared to 53 for Virginia.
With Denver University visiting for a 3 p.m. game today, the Cavaliers had no time to savor win number two.
"We'll meet [Saturday night] and go over some stuff," Starsia said. "We're ready to go on Monday."
For Virginia's players, the memory of last seasons 9-7 loss to the Pioneers is still fresh in their memory.
"This is one we really want," Christmas said. "We want to take it to them."
Starsia echoed the players' sentiments.
"There are some situations in athletics where a group of athletes feels like they faced another group of athletes and they just didn't show them anything," he said. "I think amongst our guys, there's a feeling that this is a game that we've circled on the calendar for awhile."
If the first two games of the season have proven anything, it's that the Cavaliers will be firing on all cylinders against the Pioneers, ready to take revenge for a loss that wrecked their 2004 campaign almost before it even began.
Read More
No. 6 women’s squash falls to No. 5 Stanford in first match of the new year
By Peter Kratz | YesterdayThe Cavaliers fall to 0-1 in conference play after their first clash with the Cardinal.
Katie Grimes posts historic debut as women’s swimming and diving annihilates Virginia Tech
By Xander Tilock | 2 days agoGrimes broke out as a new superstar for Coach Todd DeSorbo's squad.
Women’s basketball displays stingy defense, but falls short versus No. 14 Duke
By Xander Tilock | 2 days agoThe Cavaliers nearly conquered a ranked rival but could not generate consistent offense.
