Less than a week ago, the Virginia men’s lacrosse team emerged victorious in the longest Division I game in NCAA history. Now facing a high-profile matchup against conference rival North Carolina, the team is looking to maintain its focus, coach Dom Starsia said.
“We just have to take care of our own business,” Starsia said. “You worry about the variables you can control.”
Starsia is quick, however, to recognize the uniqueness of the Virginia-North Carolina matchup, which will take place at the Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands Sports Complex, home to the NFL team.
“To be the first lacrosse game in the Meadowlands in the New York metropolitan area, to have the quality of teams they have in this one,” he said, “this is a big moment for the sport and a special moment for the program.”
The contest between the two ACC teams will be the first game of The Big City Classic triple-header. Following the game between Virginia and North Carolina, Syracuse and Princeton will face off. The night will then be capped off with a game between Hofstra and Delaware.
The stadium will be unfamiliar turf for all teams involved in the Classic, but for one player, it will be a sort of homecoming.
“I’m very excited,” said junior defensemen Ryan Nizolek, a native of the area. “Growing up and going to watch the Giants or the Jets ... and then finally playing and walking the same halls that they walk through before the game.”
As Virginia (11-0, 1-0 ACC) looks to continue its undefeated season, the Tar Heels look for their first conference win since 2004.
“They have nothing to lose,” sophomore midfielder Shamel Bratton said. “Everyone is saying that they haven’t won an ACC game so we kind of have to beat them because you don’t want to be the one that they finally get the win over.”
Bratton, another area native, said the game will have “a little bit of added pressure” but it will still be “just another day at work.”
Virginia has entered a stretch of its season during which the number of games has decreased. After last weekend’s seven-overtime game, though, even six days of rest might not be enough.
“We gave them an extra day off this week,” Starsia said, adding, though, that “this is a team that’s very attentive on the practice field, and so we’ve had a little bounce in our step the last couple days, and so I fully expect us to be ready to play the Heels.”
Although the Tar Heels have had a rough time in the ACC recently, they boast an 8-3 record and a No. 10 ranking. Fresh off their own overtime win against Johns Hopkins last weekend, North Carolina hopes to spring an upset against top-ranked Virginia. With three players on its team with more than 20 goals each, North Carolina’s offense threatens to end Virginia’s undefeated season.
“We’ve been through a lot together so we don’t make any bones about just throwing stuff out on the table and talking about it,” Starsia said. “The world is waiting to see if we are going to let down. So I said to the kids: Let’s just not let it happen.”
Read More
Scott Stadium selected to host 2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships
By Michael Liebermann | 18 hours agoThe biggest event on the college lacrosse calendar will unfold on Grounds.
Abysmal start proves too much to overcome as Virginia exits ACC Tournament early
By Ryan Weiner | 2 days agoIf the Cavaliers make the NCAA Tournament, they cannot afford to play another game like this.
As the Walshes take their final bow, the swimming world pauses
By Xander Tilock | 2 days agoHow could anyone possibly describe the success of this duo?
