The Virginia men's lacrosse team has lost 17 games since 2004; nine of those losses have come against Duke. In fact, the Cavaliers have dropped nine of their last 10 matchups against the Blue Devils, including a 14-13 defeat during last year's NCAA semifinal game. This weekend, the No. 7 Virginia team travels to Durham, N.C., looking to reverse that recent trend.
"In the past, we've had some matchup issues [against Duke]," senior defender Bray Malphrus said. "I think our matchups [this year] are a little better ... but at the same time they'll be capable... [The Blue Devil's] intensity is always notched up one more than any other team so they find a way to pound you."
Virginia narrowly avoided its first three-game losing streak since 2004 last weekend, stealing an electrifying 11-10 overtime victory against North Carolina. The team has fallen short of its historically high standards this season, but it enters its last regular season game believing it can peak at the right time.
"We don't want to be hot in April, we want to be hot in May," Malphrus said. "And as concerned as I was after those two games that we've lost ... I'm looking forward to May. I think we've gone through the down cycle and we're on the upswing."
Virginia will need that upswing to stymie Duke, a team which sits atop the ACC. Despite losing first team All-American attackman Ned Crotty and second team All-American attackman Max Quinzani from last year, the Blue Devils have reloaded with a great freshman class which includes attackman Jordan Wolf. Wolf ranks second on the team with 20 goals and leads the team with 13 assists.
"They've replaced [Quinzani and Crotty] with some younger kids that are very capable," Malphrus said. "They have [Wolf] on attack who's quick as can be ... [Duke] just rags you all over the field, unlike any other team we play. Most of the times on faceoffs, you pick up a groundball [and] you usually can just jog around and find the open guy. You play Duke, you pick up a groundball and they're hounding you all over the field."
If the Cavaliers can survive Duke's energy, they have a chance to hand the Blue Devils (9-4, 2-0) their first ACC loss, as well as steal the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament. Seeding, however, is not the team's paramount concern.
"We don't worry about seeds in the ACCs or NCAAs for that matter," Malphrus said. "A No. 1 seed is nice, but that's a luxury. More importantly we just need to win this game."
A win Saturday will give Virginia head coach Dom Starsia 325 wins, leaving him one win behind Jack Emmer for the most wins all time as a Division I lacrosse head coach. Starsia recognizes the magnitude of the accomplishment, but also said he has more pressing issues on his mind.
"It would be false modesty to say that I'm not even aware of it," Starsia said. "As I get older, I have noticed the big numbers in my life. I have been married for a long time, my children are getting older. [But] I don't feel like patting myself on the back. I'm busy enough that I don't have to worry about it right now"
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