Virginia holds on for win

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Revenge? No, no this game wasn’t about revenge. Last year, said Virginia head Dom Starsia, was last year.

But when Syracuse started to creep back from what looked like an insurmountable deficit, it was impossible for the head coach to ignore the past.

This time, the Virginia defense stood its ground. The Cavaliers (5-0) avenged the loss that ended their 2008 championship bid in another thriller between the nation’s two best teams. The second-ranked Cavaliers took down top-ranked Syracuse (2-1), 13-12, in front of 16,595 fans Friday night.

“I was having some flashbacks, to be honest,“  Starsia said. “A few days ago, when we started talking about this game to to the team, I said, ‘When you play Syracuse, you need to play a 60-minute game.‘“

He was right. Despite Syracuse never holding a lead the entire game, it took every last second for the Cavaliers to knock off the country’s No. 1 lacrosse squad.

The game marked the third-largest crowd in Carrier Dome regular season lacrosse history and the largest since 1992.

Virginia outshot the Orange 49-34. UVa midfielder Shamel Bratton led the way with four goals. But the Cavaliers struggled to put the game away. The teams entered the second half tied at four.

Then, one lucky fast break gave Virginia the momentum it needed to take control.

Trailing 5-4, Syracuse midfielder Matt Abbott tried to equalize the game again. He rocketed a shot at the goal, and the ball ricocheted off the post. UVa midfielder Mike Thompson scooped it up and sprinted down an open field.

He flipped a pass to Virginia attackman Danny Glading in front of the Orange goal. The senior had no trouble finding the back of the cage to give Virginia had its first two-goal lead of the game at 6-4. The Cavaliers would build their advantage to 11-6.

But games between these two foes never end without a furious rally. Just look at last year’s NCAA lacrosse semifinals: the Orange overcame from an 8-3 third quarter deficit to stun Virginia, 12-11, in double overtime.

“It crosses your mind,“ said Glading, who finished with a hat trick. “But I wasn’t worried about that outcome.“

Virginia beat the Orange the last time the teams met during the regular season. The Cavaliers toppled Syracuse, 14-13 in overtime, last March in Baltimore

This matchup made for a classic once again. With a minute left, SU attackman Tim Desko slung a shot past UVa goalie Adam Ghitelman to cut the lead to one.

With 30 seconds left, Desko had the ball again and Syracuse looked primed to tie up the score. Instead ,Desko made an errant pass to teammate Kenny Nims, and UVa freshman Steele Stanwick picked up the ground ball. A third straight overtime game between the two rivals wouldn’t be necessary.

Sure, the Cavaliers let Syracuse come back from a five-goal deficit. But as long as UVa comes out on top, Starsia doesn’t have any problem with a little excitement down the stretch.

Said the head coach: “There’s always something magical to these games.“

Ground balls

Virginia head coach Dom Starsia moved into a tie for fourth-place all-time in coaching wins—matching a Syracuse legend.  Starsia equaled ex-SU coach Roy Simmons Jr. with his 290th win….Those in the record-breaking crowd watched Virginia win its third straight at the Carrier Dome - becoming the first team ever to accomplish the feat. ... UVa also took the lead in the all-time series, leading by the apt margin of 13 to 12.