Behind 12 saves from goalie Matt Barrett, the Virginia Cavaliers (6-5) shut out the Richmond Spiders (7-3) on Saturday afternoon, 9-0, inside Robins Stadium. It was UVA’s eighth all-time shutout and first since 2007 when the Cavaliers beat VMI 20-0.
“This is probably the most complete game we have played,” said Virginia men’s lacrosse head coach Dom Starsia. “I thought Richmond played very well defensively and it was probably a little disheartening for them when their [Mitch] Goldberg kid got hurt. Our guys seemed to smell the blood in the water a little bit and we started to get after them at that point. I was pleased to see that we were really on the ground balls on the defensive end. Everything was up and out the first time. That was really important. We have been working hard, we keep talking about getting better and today was another step for us.”
Virginia scored quickly, finding nylon 56 seconds into the game via an unassisted goal by Ryan Lukacovic. Richmond won the opening draw and a quick save by Barrett started a UVA clear. Lukacovic took the ball behind the cage and immediately dodged right and scored once he passed goal-line extended.
Richmond won the ensuing faceoff, but the Spiders’ Mitch Goldberg turned the ball over on a caused turnover by Zach Ambrosino. Goldberg, without contact, went down with an injury that knocked the star Spider out for the remainder of the game.
With 2:31 left in the first quarter a Greg Coholan shot was saved, but Mike D’Amario was in front of the crease to pick up the carom and deposited the ball for the score.
UVA took a 4-0 lead into the intermission after an unassisted goal by Matt Emery at the 7:09 mark in the second quarter, followed by a Coholan goal on a D’Amario helper.
The Cavaliers had their most productive offensive quarter in the third, scoring three times. James Pannell found Zed Williams with 11:11 left in the third quarter to start the streak. AJ Fish also scored at 10:10 and Lukacovic capped the scoring in the frame with an unassisted goal with 22 seconds left.
Fish started the fourth quarter scoring with his second goal of the day. Emery capped the game’s scoring with his second goal of the game with 2:46 left in the game, securing UVA’s third win in a seven-day span.
Virginia won the battle of shots (29-27), ground balls (31-27) and saves (13-10). Richmond had more faceoffs (7-6) and turnovers (22-17).
The Cavaliers had two goals each from Emery, Fish and Lukacovic.
Virginia returns to action on Sunday, April 10 when the Cavaliers travel to Chapel Hill to face North Carolina in ACC action. Faceoff is set for 2 p.m. and the game will be televised live on ESPNU.
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Chris Graham
