Cornell offense surprises UVa

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Having seen Cornell during the regular season and watching the Big Red score just six goals in their quarterfinal win over Princeton last weekend, you couldn’t really blame Virginia players for thinking they would be facing a methodical squad.

But that wasn’t really the case on Saturday.

Cornell coach Jeff Tambroni said getting off to a quick start was a major key.

“We heard a lot from the media about how we weren’t supposed to win this game,” Tambroni said, “and I think by starting strong early, our players could believe in themselves and play at such a high level.”

Six minutes into the game, Cornell led 3-0. Just over 15 minutes in, the Big Red had a 6-1 advantage.

“After a few shots went in, I thought we settled in and I felt we had a positive look in our eyes,” Tambroni added.

Where’s the ‘D’?

Virginia goalie Adam Ghitelman didn’t have one of his better games, allowing 15 goals and finishing with five saves — but coach Dom Starsia wasn’t pointing any blame.

“I don’t think it was just Adam,” Starsia said. “It looked like defensively that we were incapable of winning some of the individual battles. Nobody was working together…they were just very alert and finding the open man.”

Tough to swallow

One of the Virginia players who seemed most upset afterward was junior Max Pomper. The junior was extremely close with the late Will Barrow, one of UVa’s captains last season, and desperately wanted to win an NCAA title in his friend’s honor.

“We had a great run,” said Pomper, holding back tears. “It’s a shame that it ended this early and ended in this fashion, but I’m proud of the way we fought all year and how, in dark times, we came together.”

Ground balls

Cornell and Syracuse last met in the NCAA title game in 1988. The Orange won, 13-8. … Cornell is the first Ivy League team to make the final since Princeton in 2001. … Virginia’s two first-half goals tied its lowest output of the season (Duke in the ACC tournament). … UVa’s six-goal halftime deficit was its largest of the season. … The attendance for Saturday’s games was 36,594, the seventh-highest total for a semifinal round.