No. 1 Cavaliers dispatch Colonials
Matt Rosenberg/The Daily Progress
Virginia baseball coach Brian O’Connor and the Cavaliers won in their home opener on Wednesday, defeating George Washington to improve to 3-1 this season.
By Jay Jenkins
Published: February 24, 2010
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The first one is out of the way.
Life as the top-ranked team in the country often brings something extra from opponents, an adventure that the Virginia baseball program must learn to deal with.
On Wednesday, despite less than favorable field conditions in spots in the outfield, the Cavaliers used a four-run fourth inning and an impressive bullpen performance to secure a 5-2 victory at home over George Washington.
It was the first time that Virginia (3-1) had taken the diamond since being ranked No. 1 in the nation, but not something that coach Brian O’Connor would like to discuss in the future.
“The No. 1 ranking is really nice and it’s a great honor. I addressed it with the team [Tuesday] and told them congratulations,” O’Connor said. “We all aspire to be the best.
“It’s a great accomplishment, but I told them it was the last day I was going to address rankings again the rest of the year. You can’t get any higher than No. 1.”
Virginia opened the game’s scoring in the third inning after Danny Hultzen walked, stole second base and scored on a one-out RBI double from Dan Grovatt.
It was in the fourth inning, however, that the Cavaliers broke the game open with a four-hit frame that included doubles from John Hicks and Hultzen.
The Cavaliers did not score again in the game, but it was more than enough offense for starting pitcher Will Roberts (1-0) and the backend of the bullpen.
Roberts, a sophomore, scattered five hits over 5.2 innings and allowed the Colonials two runs, both of which came in the sixth inning.
“I thought Will Roberts pitched a really good ballgame,” O’Connor said. “I would have liked to have seen him finish that sixth inning, but he hit his pitch count and we had to take him out of the ballgame.
“He was in pretty good control other than [two] walks.”
With Roberts watching from the dugout, the game got rather dicey in the eighth inning after reliever Corey Hunt allowed back-to-back singles to open the frame.
O’Connor went to southpaw Neal Davis, who retired two batters after a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position.
Having worked just once at East Carolina, closer Kevin Arico was summoned to escape the two-out jam.
He delivered, striking out Tyler McCarthy in a six-pitch sequence that appeared over before a 3-2 slider ended the at-bat.
“The 2-2 pitch was close, but you have to delete what just happened,” said Arico, who recorded his second save. “I didn’t get the call, so you move onto the next pitch.”
Arico gave up a single in the ninth, but slammed the door with ease.
“It was mainly the slider that was working,” he said. “I threw a couple of fastballs and went to a couple of change-ups once in a while to get ahead of guys. I felt good out there.”
Virginia had just one hitter, junior Phil Gosselin, finish with a multi-hit game.
Starting in left field, Gosselin finished 3 for 5, scored a run and stole his second base of the season.
The Cavaliers will return to action Friday at home against Rhode Island at 3 p.m. The two teams will play a three-game set with games at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
 

No. 1 Cavaliers Top George Washington, 5-2
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/24/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The top-ranked Virginia baseball team opened its 2010 home schedule with a 5-2 victory over George Washington Wednesday afternoon at Davenport Field. UVa, in its first game ever as the nation's No. 1-ranked team, built a 5-0 lead through four innings, then cruised to the victory from there.
Will Roberts (So., Richmond, Va.) made a strong opening start for the Cavaliers (3-1), going 5.2 innings and allowing two earned runs, five hits and two walks while striking out one as he earned his first victory of 2010. He shut out the Colonials for five innings before giving up a pair of runs in the sixth. Kevin Arico (Jr., Flemington, N.J.) pitched the final 1.1 innings to nab his second save. It also was his 13th career save, as he moved into a fourth-place tie on the all-time UVa saves ledger with Todd Ruyak (1989-92).

At the plate, Phil Gosselin (Jr., West Chester, Pa.) led UVa with three hits. Virginia finished with 10 hits as a team, and UVa once again showed its offensive balance as eight of the Cavaliers' nine starters recorded at least one hit.

GW starter Jeff Griffith was credited with the defeat after going three innings and allowing two earned runs, three hits and four walks. Tom Zebroski paced the Colonials (0-4) with three hits.

Virginia drew first blood with a third-inning run. With one out, Danny Hultzen (So., Bethesda, Md.) coaxed a walk. He then stole second and scored on a Dan Grovatt (Jr., Tabernacle, N.J.) double into the right-field corner.

UVa broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning. John Hicks (So., Sandy Hook, Va.) led off with a double and advanced on a Griffith wild pitch. Hicks scored when Kenny Swab (Jr., Kernersville, N.C.) grounded out to first base. Keith Werman (So., Vienna, Va.) then singled to center. With Werman running on the pitch, Gosselin singled to center, and when center fielder Brendon Kelliher bobbled the ball, Werman scored all the way from first and Gosselin moved to second. Hultzen then doubled to left-center to plate Gosselin. Grovatt followed with a walk and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Steven Proscia (So., Suffern, N.Y.) then hit a sacrifice fly to right to plate Hultzen and give UVa a 5-0 advantage.

George Washington got on the board with a pair of sixth-inning runs. With one out, Zebroski reached on an infield single. One out later, Chris Luick and Kelliher hit back-to-back singles to bring in Zebroski. UVa went to reliever Whit Mayberry (Fr., Alexandria, Va.), who gave up a double just inside the bag and down the first-base line to Tyler McCarthy, which scored Luick to cut UVa's lead to 5-2.

UVa used key relief pitching in the eighth inning to thwart a potential GW rally. After GW put runners on second and third with none out, Neal Davis (Sr., Baltimore, Md.) struck out Luick looking, then forced pinch hitter Paul Pakan to ground out to the pitcher's mound while holding both runners. Arico then came on and fanned McCarthy to end the inning.

The Cavaliers continue their nine-game homestand this weekend, playing host to Rhode Island in a three-game series. The teams start the series at 3 p.m. Friday, then will play 1 p.m. games Saturday and Sunday.


 

Virginia easily takes first game at home
Roberts gives up two earned runs during steady five innings; team holds onto early lead to top Colonials 5-2
Andrew Seidman, Cavalier Daily Sports Editor
Baseball / Featured / Sports
February 25, 2010 0

Forty-eight hours ago, it was a ground-breaking accomplishment. But after his team defeated George Washington 5-2 in the season home-opener, coach Brian O’Connor said the subject is now taboo. Like screaming ‘bomb’ on an airplane.

“I told them that yesterday was the last time I was ever gonna address rankings again, the rest of the year,” O’Connor said. “You can’t go any higher than No. 1.”

Through five innings against George Washington yesterday, sophomore pitcher Will Roberts carried the top team in the nation, holding the Colonials (0-4) to just two walks and two hits. Roberts’ effort may not have matched his stunning debut performance against William & Mary from a year ago, in which he struck out eight batters in five innings — the most for a Virginia freshman since 2006 — but it provided the Cavalier offense with more than enough room to inflict heavy damage against the George Washington pitching staff.

Virginia (3-1) struck first in the third inning when junior right fielder Dan Grovatt smacked a double down the right field line to score sophomore designated hitter Danny Hultzen.

Sophomore first baseman John Hicks carried the momentum into the following inning with a leadoff double and eventually scored on junior catcher Kenny Swabb’s ground-out after advancing to third on a wild pitch. Sophomore second baseman Keith Werman and junior left fielder Phil Gosselin compiled back-to-back singles, and both advanced on errors, with Werman eventually scoring. After Gosselin moved to third on a wild pitch, Hultzen made his presence felt again with an RBI double to left-center. The preseason All-American would add another run when sophomore third baseman Steven Proscia hit a sacrifice fly to give Virginia a 5-0 lead.

Although the Cavaliers were cruising through five, the Colonials made things interesting in the sixth. Roberts allowed two base-runners for the first time in a single inning and was pulled from the game when junior outfielder Brendon Kelliher knocked a single through the left side of the infield to give George Washington its first run.

“I thought Will Roberts pitched a really good ball game,” O’Connor said. “I would’ve loved to have seen him finish that sixth inning, but he hit his pitch count and we had to take him out of the ball game.”

His replacement, freshman Whit Mayberry, provided little immediate relief. With runners on second and third, Mayberry surrendered a double that just grazed the right-field line to stay in fair play. Mayberry induced a groundout to second to end the bruising, however, and settled in for a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the seventh, fanning two batters.

After Proscia was tagged out at home plate in the bottom half of the inning, O’Connor brought in junior Corey Hunt from the bullpen. But Hunt, who allowed four earned runs in 2/3 of an inning against East Carolina last Sunday, found no sanctuary at home. After Hunt surrendered two singles to the first two batters he faced, O’Connor turned to senior lefty Neal Davis, who was charged with the task of protecting a precarious three-run lead with the potential tying run at bat.

The southpaw was smooth as could be, striking out the first candidate with a biting breaking ball on the outside edge of the plate. He then fielded a comebacker to the mound, looked off the runner on third and threw to first to record the second out of the inning.

“I think Neal Davis is really determined this year to have a great year in his final senior season, and he’s pitched great all three times he’s been out there,” O’Connor said. “He’s gonna be a valuable left-handed pitcher for us out of our bullpen — we don’t have many left-handers down there — he’s the veteran and he’s gonna need to continue to do the job for us.”

The outing gave Davis a much needed boost in confidence after he dealt with shoulder injuries toward the end of last season. Though he said the stiffness has affected his velocity, he added that he is more of a finesse pitcher, letting the breaking balls do the work.

“It felt pretty good,” Davis said. “Steven Proscia made a really good play for me this past weekend, so I just have the confidence to try and throw strikes and let my fielders make the play.”
Junior closer Kevin Arico entered the game to record the final out of the inning, striking out senior Chris Luick with a dirty slider.

Arico finished the job in the ninth, allowing just one hit en route to his second save and a Virginia victory. His performance was no surprise — Arico solidified the Cavalier bullpen in 2009 with a 2.70 ERA and 11 saves.

For O’Connor, the major implication of this win is the potential development of Roberts into a reliable starter.

“I said at the beginning of the year I felt like Will Roberts was gonna be a really big key to this pitching staff this year,” O’Connor said. “Last year, he got some really good innings for us — he was in our weekend rotation at one point early in the season. He’s a strike-thrower, he knows how to pitch, and when you have an offense like we do and play good defense, that’s gonna win you ball games on the mound. He’s gonna need to step up this year and pitch more innings than he did last year.”

And though the mystique of ‘No. 1’ will be silenced in the locker room, O’Connor acknowledged the effects it will have on his team’s opponents moving forward.

“It’s exciting for anybody to come here to play the No. 1 team in the country and a chance to knock ‘em off,” O’Connor said. “It creates a little bit bigger a bull’s eye on our back, but I think people know we’ve got a good program and they know what they’re in for when they play us.”

Cavs topple Tribe by wide margin
Team wins doubles point 2-1, takes five of six singles matches en route to victory
Will Van Wazer, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
Sports / Women's Tennis
February 25, 2010 0

For its last match before conference play begins this weekend, the No. 25 Virginia women’s tennis team dropped No. 51 William & Mary, 6-1.

The Cavaliers (5-2) started oFf the match on the right foot, taking the doubles point after an 8-1 win by sophomore Emily Fraser and senior Jennifer Stevens at the No. 1 spot, and a 8-2 victory by the pair of sophomore Lindsey Hardenbergh and freshman Erin Vierra, currently ranked No. 53 in the nation.

The Cavaliers then put two quick points on the board in singles play with freshmen Maria Fuccillo and Hana Tomljanovic winning 6-2, 6-2 and 6-3, 6-2, respectively, at the No. 6 and No. 5 spots.
For Hardenbergh and Vierra at No. 1 and No. 3, it was clearly a tale of two sets. Both went deep into the first set of their singles matches, ultimately taking their opening sets 7-5 and 7-6(3), respectively.

When it came time for the second set, the attitudes of Hardenbergh and Vierra’s opponents changed considerably. The shouts of “Go Tribe!” were replaced by players shouting at themselves for unforced errors, as Vierra took the second set 6-1 and Hardenbergh capped off her victory 6-0.

“William & Mary has a lot of spirit and a lot of fight, so we knew coming into it that they were going to be like that, so it just took a lot of focus on all of our parts to block that out and do what we to do,” Vierra said. “It was going to be an emotional match either way, so it was just capitalizing on the momentum after winning that first [set] and carrying it into the second.”

Meanwhile, senior Jennifer Stevens battled through a tight first set, but ultimately lost her match 7-6, 6-1 at the No. 4 spot for the Cavaliers’ only singles loss of the afternoon.

Although the outcome of the match was already decided, all eyes were on the second court at the end to watch Fraser face off against Marian Mesgarzadeh at the No. 2 spot. After taking the first set 6-3 and leading the second set 5-1, Fraser allowed Mesgarzadeh to reel off five games in a row. Fraser pushed the second set to a tiebreaker, which she lost 11-to-9.

Entering the match tiebreak, however, Fraser rocketed past Mesgarzadeh, cruising to a 10-2 win.

“You’re always going to play better if you play smarter,” Guilbeau said, “and that’s what she allowed to happen.”

Friday the Cavaliers travel up to Chestnut Hill to start ACC play against Boston College and then travel back to Charlottesville Sunday for a double-header with Maryland and Old Dominion. The team’s previous two victories in addition to their preparation during practice has them relaxed and confident.

“I think the coaches really prepare us well,” Hardenbergh said. “I do want to give a lot of credit to them because they’ve scouted out so we know exactly who we are playing, we know exactly where to hit the ball.”

In upcoming practices, Guilbeau said the team will continue to emphasize consistency and intensity during practices, which he said will help improve the team’s play as the Cavaliers begin ACC competition this week.

“I’m not going to knock anybody but sometimes we aren’t practicing real well,” Guilbeau said. “You’re not as accountable for misses in practice as you are in a match …

We’ve gotta learn to be disciplined in practice, and it really allows us to play looser and freer in the matches … I think it can lead us to some really good tough wins.”

Class 4A Boys: Brewbaker Tech 65, Columbia 54

Birmingham News -- Paul Beaudry, February 24, 2010 9:18 p.m.

Second-ranked Brewbaker Tech struggled to hold a lead in the early part of the fourth quarter. Keylon Harrell made sure the Rams didn't struggle after that.

The Virginia-bound senior hit nine-straight points to turn a three-point lead into an 11-point bulge as the Rams moved to Saturday's Class 4A championship with the win over No. 7 Columbia at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena on Wednesday.

Harrell finished with 27 points and had 10 rebounds for the Rams (24-5), while Giovanni Smith had 16 points and Chris Bendolph had 15 points with nine rebounds. Columbia was led by Dionte Kelley with 16 points, and Patrick Smart had 11. Robert Flowers chimed in with six points, but eight rebounds, six blocks and five steals.

U.Va. fans want Spurlock on floor, but defense remains sticking point
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By Michael Phillips
Published: February 25, 2010
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CHARLOTTESVILLE As the star recruit of this year's Virginia freshman class gets up to shake hands with the other team, his warm-up jacket is still on. It's been another night of spectating for Tristan Spurlock, who has the best seat in the house but is getting antsy in it.

He can sense the fans getting antsy, too. Why isn't he playing? Is he on his way out? Wouldn't his offense help the struggling Cavaliers right now? On the bench, he's having those same thoughts.

"I'll say that if I were so and so, I could slash here or score here, but that's when I'm sitting on the bench," he said. "You know, everybody loves the backup quarterback."

Dave Leitao's final recruiting class consisted of two standout players, the small but feisty Jontel Evans, and Spurlock, a human highlight reel of monster dunks and clutch shots. But Leitao departed in the offseason, replaced by defensive-minded Tony Bennett. Evans proved to be an ideal fit for the new coach's system. Spurlock has struggled to adjust to the defensive emphasis.

Both freshmen -- Evans from Hampton, and Spurlock from the D.C. area, have bonded as friends and roommates, a mutual-support system as they adjust to college. Evans talks about the strides Spurlock has made over the past month as he begins to get more playing time, but then speaks to the bigger picture.

"He's frustrated," Evans said. "Being a top 100 player in the nation and coming in here with expectations to play right away, he's frustrated. But as his roommate and best friend on the team, I tell him to keep his head up and better things will come."

Things have started to improve, though gradually, for Spurlock. He was told at the start of the season to work on his defense, that he'd have to improve that to see regular playing time. In three of the past four games, he's taken the floor, though in two of them, it was in the final minutes. Against Clemson, he played early in the second half, but the team went to a zone defense when he took the floor, making an evaluation tougher.

He's also been rotated in with the scrimmage team in practices -- as the fifth forward, he's been the odd man out during drills. When he was in the action, he had to guard team star Sylven Landesberg, which was quite the adjustment from high school.

"Obviously, being a first-year guy, he's got to continue to work, and then when those opportunities present themselves get in there and be ready," Bennett said.

A lack of playing time led some to speculate that Spurlock was being silently run out of town, and that he was contemplating transferring at the end of the year. During high school, he switched schools before his senior year and reportedly had a falling-out with at least two area coaches.

As a top-tier recruit, he picked Virginia over Georgetown as his college choice. But he said that's all just speculation.

"I'm fully aware that everybody has their own opinion, and they're entitled to their own opinion," he said. "For my situation, if I were looking from the outside in that's the first thing I'd speculate too.

"But I'm not looking to the future. I'm looking to our next game. I'm not thinking of anything else besides that. I take everything day by day."

He said that during a down period earlier this year, he was encouraged by his parents. His mom and dad came down on his birthday, when the team played N.C. State, and his dad regularly attends while his mom stays home to take care of Spurlock's two younger sisters.

As to his future, he's not ready to think about that yet. He maintains he can work his way into the lineup this year and says that taking a next-year approach won't work in college basketball.

"You could try to, but they're always bringing in somebody -- freshmen, sophomores, anybody can transfer in," he said. "You've always got to think about right now. I'm thinking that I want to go right now -- you keep waiting, and you'll be waiting forever."

His time has come in the eyes of fans. In the midst of a six-game losing streak that has included some horrendous offense, they're clamoring for a look at the offensive wizard, thinking it would be tough for things to get worse.

But Spurlock's defense remains the sticking point. Evans said that he's seen the improvement in practice, and for now that's keeping his spirits up.

"I think he's getting comfortable," he said. "He knows what he needs to work on to get on the floor, so I don't think it's bothering him anymore."

Sylven Landesberg's injured thigh

Sylven Landesberg's various ailments are often evident after games, when the Virginia star waits in the locker room for interviews while nursing whatever hurts following 30-plus minutes in which Landesberg remains the object of defense's attentions.

After Tuesday's loss to Miami, Landesberg kept an ice pack along his right thigh. The thigh was briefly examined in the first half, but Landesberg continued playing shortly thereafter. Not until after the game did anyone learn about the severity of the pain.

"My thigh is pretty much swollen right now, so I can't really bend it or move too well," said Landesberg, who scored 27 points.

"I was trying the best I can with this," Landesberg said. "I couldn't really move, or run as well. ..That's why I had to rely a little more on the jump shot than going to the basket."

Considering the injury, Landesberg played one of his best games of the season. He connected on 8 of 14 shots, including a career-high five three-pointers. It was clear that something was not right, because Landesberg stuck to the outside.

Nonetheless, he remained Virginia's only reliable scoring option -- especially with Mike Scott having such a poor night. Expect Landesberg to play Sunday against Duke, but Virginia will need more than its ailing star to remain competitive.

By Zach Berman

Mike Scott's struggles hurt the Cavaliers

It's a given that players have bad games, but it's hard to find a game in Virginia forward Mike Scott's career that was worse than the one Scott experienced in Tuesday's loss to Miami.

Scott missed all seven of his field goal attempts. He grabbed only three rebounds. Miami dominated the Cavaliers in the paint, and it got to the point when Coach Tony Bennett kept Virginia's second-best player on the bench for a good chunk of the game. Scott played only 22 minutes.

"He was not in sync tonight at all," Bennett said.

Opponents have noticed Virginia's undermanned front line and have tried to exploit it. Miami Coach Frank Haith praised his interior players after the game, and though he admitted Scott had an off night, Haith said Miami forward Julian Gamble had much to do with it.

Virginia adds two big men with its recruiting class next season, including forward James Johnson, who should have an immediate effect. Bennett has also given center Assane Sene more playing time of late, trying to see what the sophomore 7-footer can give to the team both this season and the future.

Still, Virginia needs more from Scott. Sene echoed what Bennett said after the game when he admitted that Virginia does not have significant talent, and cannot have off nights from its top players if it expects to win.

"When one or two of our key guys are off, it's hard for us to overcome that," Bennett said. "As I've said before, there are some limitations and we're trying to make the most of it."

By Zach Berman

Virginia’s Tat contributes in latest loss
By Whitey Reid
Published: February 24, 2010
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CORAL GABLES, Fla. — To teammates, Virginia senior Solomon Tat is known simply as “Solo.”
The nickname is ironic, considering Tat’s well-documented selflessness and team-first attitude.
In Virginia’s 74-62 loss to Miami on Tuesday night, Virginia coach Tony Bennett rewarded Tat — one of three team captains — for his behind-the-scenes contributions.
With 12:17 left in the game, Tat got the call for the first time since Jan. 31. The 6-foot-5 Nigerian, who hadn’t played in the team’s last six games — he had logged a total of just 20 minutes all season — finished with two points and a rebound in six minutes.
Bennett’s insertion of Tat into the action was probably more for symbolic and motivational purposes than for any kind of tangible results.
“When I saw Solo in the game, that was not a surprise to me because I know he’s been working really hard,” said Virginia sophomore Assane Sene. “He really deserves the minutes that he gets.
“He works hard every single day and that’s why coach put him in the game. Coach plays all the players who have been working hard in practice.”
Surprisingly, Tat didn’t feel rusty. “Because the practice that I’ve been doing has pretty much kept me in shape,” he said. “And I’m a fourth-year and have been out there against other big teams and stuff.”
During his teleconference on Monday, Bennett had singled out Tat for his leadership skills and work ethic during practice. Bennett said that he had never seen anyone quite like Tat — in terms of his always-positive morale.
Tat said it felt great to be able to contribute in an actual game for a change.
“Coach, I’m pretty sure, feels like it’s the right time for me to go out there and play,” Tat said. “Every day I come out to practice and play hard. Coach keeps saying, ‘Don’t ever give up’ and that’s what we’re trying to do now as a team and also as individuals.”
Added Sene: “Solo is a great [influence] for the whole team. He’s been here for four years. He talks to everybody. He says, ‘We have to be ready, we have to be strong.’”
Now Virginia, which faces the unenviable task of trying to break a six-game losing streak when it hosts Duke on Sunday, just needs to listen a little better.
 

Virginia Earns First Win of the Season, Defeats Richmond 17-8
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/24/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The No. 12 Virginia women’s lacrosse team earned its first win of the season Wednesday evening, defeating in-state rival Richmond, 17-8, at the University Hall Turf Field.

Senior All-American Brittany Kalkstein collected six draw controls in the contest to tie the ACC’s all-time record for draw controls, equaling Maryland’s Dana Dobbie’s total of 205 from 2007-08.

Offensively for Virginia (1-1), senior All-American Kaitlin Duff and sophomore Charlie Finnigan led the way with four goals and two assists each. Sophomore Josie Owen contributed three goals and two assists, while sophomore Julie Gardner had three goals.

Kalkstein added two goals, while senior Caity Whiteley had one goal and two assists. Sophomore Ainsley Baker and freshman Kelly Austin rounded out the scoring with an assist each – Austin’s first career point.

For Richmond (0-4), Mary Flowers led the way with four goals, four ground balls and three draw controls.

The Cavaliers got out to another quick start tonight, tallying a goal just 19 seconds into play. Owen was responsible for the goal, as she fired a pass from Whiteley into the back of the net, sparking a 5-0 run for Virginia.

Duff converted a free position shot for the Cavaliers’ second score, at 27:18, before Whiteley tallied a goal at 24:08. Back-to-back goals from Finnigan within 28 seconds of each other accounted for Virginia’s 5-0 start, forcing Richmond to call a timeout.

Following the intermission, the Spiders recorded two-straight goals, but Finnigan converted an 8-meter shot to push Virginia ahead four, at 6-2. Duff made the score 7-2 with her second goal at 13:42.

Richmond then sandwiched goals around one from Kalkstein to keep within four at the 3:35 mark, but Owen broke up a clear attempt by the Spiders and went one-on-one with the goalie at 2:47 to give Virginia a five-goal cushion.

Finnigan found the back of the net for a fourth time before the intermission, giving Virginia a 10-4 advantage at the break.

Virginia wasted no time getting on the board in the second half, as sophomore Annie Taylor won the opening draw control and passed ahead to Finnigan, who found Kalkstein for the score just 20 seconds into play.

Three minutes later, Finnigan dished a pass out of an 8-meter attempt to a wide-open Owen in front of the goal for a score. Owen then found Gardner for a third-straight Cavalier goal at 22:48.

Virginia extended its lead to 11 off back-to-back scores from Duff, before four-straight Spider goals made the score 15-8 with 8:17 to play.

Gardner snapped the streak at 6:15 and finished the scoring in the game with another goal at 1:46, finishing a feed Austin.

Defensively, 12 Cavaliers scooped up ground balls, led by Owen’s three, while Kalkstein and freshman Caroline McTiernan each had two.

In goal, freshman Kim Kolarik stopped three shots to pick up her first collegiate win, while Benner came provided relief for Kolarik and stopped two shots without allowing a goal.

The Cavaliers will close out their three-game homestand this weekend, hosting No. 6 Syracuse on Saturday at noon. The game will be played at the UHall Turf Field.

 

Cavalier caravan - Doug Doughty | Roanoke Times

When new Virginia football coach Mike London rolled into Roanoke for a "meet and greet" session Tuesday, he was accompanied by 10 members of his coaching staff, a good indication that London will not continue the "one-voice" policy endorsed by his predecessor, Al Groh.

After London introduced his assistants, the first question he received was, "When are you going to beat Virginia Tech?" London responded, "That's a work in progress. Stay tuned."

London said the Cavaliers will play a spring game involving offense, defense and the kicking game April 10. He also said that, while the Cavaliers would not resemble Oregon, they expect to display numerous uniform combinations. "We're getting rid of the unforgettable 'horns' on the top of the helmet," he added.

Impact freshmen

University of Richmond's Lauren Hines, a former Timesland girls' swimmer of the year for Hidden Valley, was named rookie performer of the meet at the Atlantic-10 women's swimming and diving championships this past weekend.

Hines broke the A-10 record in winning the women's 100-yard backstroke and was a member of three victorious relay teams. She also took second in the 50 freestyle and third in the 200 backstroke.

Hines' former teammate with the Gators' year-around program, Miriam McGeath from Patrick Henry, finished third in the 200 butterfly and 400 individual medley and set school records in both events. Fordham won the individual championship, ending Richmond's eight-year run.

n Another former Patrick Henry swimmer, Sewanee freshman Lizzie Black, broke a school record in the 200 breaststroke at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championships and was on a record-setting relay team. She missed a school record by .04 seconds in the 100 breaststroke and was named all-conference.

UVa in polls

When Texas lost the last two games of a season-opening baseball series with New Mexico, Virginia moved up to No. 1 in the college baseball polls compiled by Baseball America and Rivals.com. Baseball became the 10th UVa program to be ranked No. 1 at some point, including three this school year -- baseball, men's soccer and men's tennis.

In 2009, UVa did not lose its first game until March 21, at which point the Cavaliers were 19-0. The Cavaliers' first loss this season came more than one month earlier, when UVa dropped the second game of a three-game set with No. 11 East Carolina in Greenville, N.C., but Virginia has scheduled more ambitiously after playing 20 of its first 23 games at home last year.

The three No. 1 teams in one school year is a first since at least 1994-1995. A third UVa spring sports team, men's lacrosse, moved up to No. 2 in the rankings this week.

Cavaliers Claim 800 Free Relay on Opening Night of ACCs
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/24/2010

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The Virginia men's swimming team opened the 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference with a win in the 800 free relay Wednesday at Koury Natatorium in Chapel Hill, N.C. The meet runs through Saturday in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Through two events, the Cavaliers stand in second place with 73 points.

"We are off to about the start we had anticipated," Virginia head coach Mark Bernardino said. "We just have to keep going forward."

In the second and final relay of the night. John Azar, Taylor Smith, Scot Robison and Matt McLean teamed up to earn an NCAA 'A' cut and win the 800 free relay. They touched in 6:19.23, a full five seconds faster than second-place UNC (6:25.89).

"I feel good that we finished strong," Bernardino said. "We have four outstanding athletes now going to the NCAA Championships and they are all versatile. Scot Robison's third leg was picture perfect. It was a great swim and we needed it there."

In the 200 medley relay, the first event of the championships, Virginia tied for second with Florida State. Eric Olesen, Tom Casey, Peter Geissinger and Azar clocked an NCAA 'B' time of 1:37.63 for the Orange and Blue.

"I was very impressed with Eric Olesen's swim in the leadoff leg," Bernardino said. "It was a beautiful swim and he looked terrific. Coming in we were hoping for a second or third in that relay."

The second day of the men's swimming championships continues Thursday with the 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free and 200 free relay. Prelims are slated for 11 a.m. with finals at 7 p.m. on ACC Select.

"We leave here tonight with the confidence and motivation of an 'A' cut," Bernardino said. Now we have to come in tomorrow and have a great morning."

2010 Men's ACC Championships
Through Event 2

1. North Carolina 74
2. Virginia 73
3. Florida State 65
4. Virginia Tech 54
5. Georgia Tech 52
6. Clemson 52
7. Duke 50
8. Maryland 48
9. NC State 22
10. Boston College 18