The Virginia men's lacrosse team will head down to Chapel Hill tomorrow to take on the struggling University of North Carolina. The highly-touted Cavaliers enter this game with a program-best 10-0 record as they stand atop the nation with a No. 1 ranking. Coming off of a tremendous 15-5 win last Saturday over Maryland, the pressure to come away with another victory and continue their streak is palpable. Virginia sits alone at the top of the ACC and is poised to win the conference regular season title.
"To come out and play extremely well [against Maryland] was definitely a confidence boost for us, but it's nothing we can take for granted," captain Matt Ward said.
The Cavaliers are truly riding high this week with coach Dom Starsia being named U.S. Lacrosse Coach of the Week the same week sophomore attackman Ben Rubeor was named ACC Player of the Week following his career-high four-goal game against Maryland. Such a successful season has come as a surprise to many, including Starsia.
"I never in my wildest dreams thought we would be here at this point like this," Starsia said. "But I don't sense that we are that excited about it. I don't think the kids care about 10-0 a great deal."
It is no secret that the UNC program has certainly seen better days. However, it is traditionally a strong competitor. Though on an 8-game slide, the Tar Heels have had strong performances against top programs such as Notre Dame (No. 11), Hofstra (No. 3) and Maryland (No. 4). Carolina was also able to put a scare into Duke, taking an early 6-0 lead before the now-suspended team staged a formidable comeback. Yet losses such as this have come to define UNC's very disappointing season: It began with much promise and preseason hype, but the team has been unable to come up with any substantial victories. They have had a great deal of trouble finishing games, as they have shown an inability to score down the stretch. They currently stand unranked with an uncharacteristic 2-8 record.
Regardless of the difficulties that Carolina has had this season, the Cavaliers know that they must be careful.
"UNC has played everyone tough this year," Ward said. "They may not have the best record, but they certainly are a very talented team ... it's still early in the season, and it's going to be tough to beat them on the road."
Virginia's defense will need to keep an eye out for Carolina's top-scoring freshman attackman, Bart Wagner, as well as dangerous senior assist-leader Ryan Blair. If left unchecked, the UNC attack unit could easily take an early lead, as they have done against many teams this season.
It is important that the team continues to focus on playing their game. With the cancellation of Duke's lacrosse season amid their team's scandal and legal troubles, this match against UNC will be the Cavaliers' final in-conference game before the start of the ACC Tournament April 28.
Despite the great success and pride that the team has brought to the program and to the University, Starsia insists that the team stay grounded.
"I think we fully understand that teams and people remember what happens to teams in May and not so much March and April," Starsia said. "So we need to continue to improve."
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