Sports

'Hoos in Top 10 in Both Major Lacrosse Polls

Posted: 5:45 PM Jan 28, 2013
Reporter: Damon Dillman

The Virginia men's lacrosse team is in the top 10 in both major preseason polls released on Monday -- and so are the other three teams from the ACC.

The Cavaliers are ranked No. 7 in the USILA Coaches Poll, and No. 9 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll.

Virginia is coming off a 12-4 season in 2012 that ended with a 12-10 loss to Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals. But the Cavaliers have to replace much of last season's offensive firepower -- leading scorers Steele Stanwick, Chris Bocklet, and Colin Briggs have all graduated -- as well as last year's starting goalie, Rob Fortunato.

The other three ACC men's lacrosse programs are all ranked above the Cavaliers in both polls released Monday. Maryland is ranked second in both polls (behind defending national champ Loyola), while Duke is No. 4 in the media poll and No. 6 in the coaches poll, and North Carolina is tied for fourth in the coaches poll and No. 7 in the media poll.

Virginia's 2013 season begins at home on February 16, when the Cavaliers host Drexel.

A Virginia lacrosse spokesperson also said Monday that the Cavaliers have agreed in principle to open the 2014 season against Richmond. The 2014 season will mark the Spiders' first as a Division I college program.