It's the burden that comes with being a perennial national title contender in college sports.

"We don't disguise it," Virginia men's lacrosse coach Dom Starsia said Thursday. "I had a young man sit in my office just earlier today. And I said our expectation is that we're going to line up every year in September thinking we can have a chance to be playing on the last weekend."

Starsia's Cavaliers will open the 2012 with the highest of expectations. The defending national champions are the preseason No. 1 in all four major men's lacrosse polls.

"It's sort of where we expect to be," Starsia said. "It doesn't make our life any easier, and we don't get the benefit or the luxury of being able to sneak up on anybody. But I'd rather be where we are, than not be where we are."

Virginia returns seven starters from last year's championship team, including senior attacker Steele Stanwick, the 2011 Tewaartan Trophy winner.

The Cavaliers' season begins February 18 at Drexel.