There is little question that winning the 2007 ACC title will be considerably more difficult for this Virginia men's lacrosse team than for its 2006 counterpart.
Indeed, the 2006 national championship team was undefeated and heavily laden with experienced seniors; had to contend with only two other ACC teams after the Blue Devils canceled their season; and, with a first-round bye, secured ACC-Championship status in just one afternoon with a victory against Maryland.
"I don't know if this title would mean more than last year's, but it will definitely be more challenging," junior Ben Rubeor said. "But having to play two games in three days is difficult and so there would be some added reward to winning the 2007 title."
With Duke (11-2 3-0 ACC) hosting this year's ACC Tournament, the Cavaliers (11-2, 2-1 ACC) will travel once again to Durham, N.C., the site of their 7-6 sudden-death overtime loss to the Blue Devils just two weeks ago.
"There's no question we are glad Duke is back," Rubeor said. "We want to play and we want to defend ourselves against the best teams in the country, and Duke is obviously one of those. We are happy they are playing and happy for them, but at the same time I think they are going to bring the best out of us."
As the tournament's No. 2 seed behind Duke, Virginia will have to earn its second chance at the Blue Devils by defeating No. 3 Maryland in Friday night's opening round.
In late March, Virginia beat Maryland 12-8 at Klöckner Stadium. Though the Terrapins have made several personnel adjustments since that time, they have not changed dramatically. With all three of Maryland's close defensemen having earned pre-season All-American honors, Virginia's attack will once again face one of the top defensive lines in the country.
"They are a lot slower team than we are, so as long as our defense settles down, we can play six-on-six with their offense all day," senior Ricky Smith said. "I think the key for the game is getting a couple of goals on them early so that if we force them to play six-on-six, they are kind of going to kill the clock."
Though Virginia will head to Durham determined to defend its current title as ACC champion, the Cavaliers are quick to point out that this team is completely different from the one that earned that designation a year ago, namely younger and more inexperienced. And, although Starsia characterizes his squad as having been fairly consistent since the beginning of the season, he's aware that the postseason can pose new challenges for young players.
"With young guys, you have to spend a little more time going through the details and making sure they are hearing you," Starsia said. "I spend a lot more time looking guys in the eye after I explain something and saying 'Did you just understand what I was saying?' -- You have to take that little extra time to make sure they understand the principles you are trying to get through to them."
An additional challenge heading into the playoffs will be the "bumps and bruises" Starsia says are currently bothering three of Virginia's essential starters: attack Rubeor, senior goalkeeper Kip Turner and sophomore long-stick midfielder Mike Timms.
Players and coaches alike expressed the belief that this year's team has given an honest effort and worked hard in every practice and every game so far. Therefore, regardless of the results of the ACC and NCAA Tournaments, it would be hard for anyone to ask more of these Cavaliers as long as Virginia continues to give everything it has in the postseason.
"This team, this 2007 effort overall, has really been terrific," Starsia said. "It's a good bunch of guys -- a young team, but we are still continuing to improve. I just hope we get there, play our best lacrosse, before we run out of season."
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