Last year the men's lacrosse team defined every aspect of what success can be. They went a perfect 17-0 for the season (the first team in NCAA Division I history to do so) and won the national championship.
That, however, was last year, and at the end of the season, after the winning streak was done and the national championship won, the team graduated five key players.
"There are lots of holes," Virginia coach Dom Starsia said. "You don't graduate Matt Ward, Kyle Dixon, Mike Culver, J.J. Morrissey and Matt Poskay and not feel it. We've got a lot of holes and a lot of work to do."
The biggest gap will probably be felt from the absence of Ward. Ward, an attackman, started all 17 games for the Cavaliers and led the team in goals. At the end of the year he took home men's college lacrosse's highest award, the Tewaaraton trophy, in recognition of all he had done.
Trying to fill the places of the graduated seniors are 14 freshmen, four of whom will probably make starts with the team.
"We have some freshmen with a lot of potential," junior attackman Ben Rubeor said. "They do have to figure outtheir role but I think the scrimmages help. We could have a goodamount of freshmen playing this year."
Headlining the new recruits is defenseman Ken Clausen. Clausen was the No. 1 defenseman according to Inside Lacrosse, and was listed as the No. 10 recruit in the country overall.
Brian Carroll, who is expected to play at midfield, has been looking strong so far in scrimmages and is expected to start for the team. Carroll was a two-time All-American in high school, and was twice listed as the Baltimore Sun City Player of the year.
Fellow freshman Mike Thompson, whose grandfather was a lacrosse captain for the Cavaliers back in 1947 and '48, is another two-time All-American who has proven to be very strong in the preseason. Thompson will most likely receive playing time as a starting defensive midfieldman.
Ryan Nizolek, another All-American, can be expected to start at defense for the team.
Yet despite the all-star credits, the freshmen are still fairly young and inexperienced, something that showed in the pre-season scrimmage against Georgetown this past Saturday.
"I got great kids -- my young guys are terrific," Starsia said. "But I do not accept guys not being smart and not making good plays. Like I toldthem after, 'You know,' I said, 'I love you all but we have a game in a week and we have to start being a little smarter right now.'"
Fortunately the team is also returning six starters, who not only will hopefully help lead the freshman, but also give the team a little extra help as the freshmen are gaining their footing.
Perhaps the most crucial of these returning players is Kip Turner. The senior goalie was eighth in the country last season and second in the ACC, starting all 17 games for the Cavaliers.
With a talented crew of freshmen and six strong returning players, only time will tell if Virginia can match its performance last year and live up to its No. 1 preseason ranking.
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