U.Va. battles for lacrosse win before record crowd
Sunday, Mar 23, 2008 - 12:07 AM
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

CHARLOTTESVILLE - University of Virginia men's lacrosse coach Dom Starsia was not so focused on the game that he failed to marvel at the scene around him.

At halftime, Starsia recalled, he turned to his top assistant, Marc Van Arsdale, and said, "I've never seen a crowd like this here. I've never seen it six-deep on the ends like that."

The largest crowd ever to witness a lacrosse game at Klockner Stadium - 7,579 was the official count -- was treated to a classic yesterday. Soon-to-be-top-ranked U.Va. forced overtime with a goal in the final minute of regulation, then beat defending NCAA champion Johns Hopkins 13-12 in sudden death when sophomore Brian Carroll took a pass from freshman Shamel Bratton and scored with 7.7 seconds left in the extra period.

"I found myself, late in the game, standing on the sideline thinking, 'What a great game,'" Starsia said. "I was interested in trying to win the game, but I was also appreciating the atmosphere. This day, it was a great moment for Virginia lacrosse."

Top-ranked Duke had lost 11-7 at Georgetown earlier in the day, so the Cavaliers knew that a victory over sixth-ranked Hopkins would elevate them to the No. 1 spot.

The win did not come easily. The Blue Jays (3-3) had the ball and a 12-11 lead with 2:40 left in the regulation, but U.Va. long-stick midfielder Mike Timms, brilliant all day, forced a turnover. With 56 seconds left, All-America attack Ben Rubeor fired a low shot past Hopkins goalie Michael Gvozden, and regulation ended with the score tied.

Rubeor finished with three goals, and junior attackman Danny Glading had a game-high four assists. But what left spectators buzzing was the quickness and playmaking ability of Virginia's heralded first-year midfielders, twins Shamel and Rhamel Bratton.

They were still in high school when they first made the cover of Inside Lacrosse magazine, and expectations for the Brattons have been ridiculously high, in Starsia's opinion. Through the first eight games, the twins had combined for nine goals and nine assists - good numbers, but not spectacular.

"I think midfield might be the hardest position for a freshman to adjust to," Rubeor said. "The first half of the season, not by any means did they play poorly, but they weren't playing their best lacrosse. And today they showed how talented they are and what they can do for our team."

Shamel had three goals to go with his assist on Carroll's game-winner, and Rhamel had a career-high two goals to help U.Va. (9-0) retain the Doyle Smith Cup, which goes to the winner of these teams' annual meeting.

"I was definitely aware of the crowd and the rivalry," Shamel said. "You come out here and you've just got to make big plays when they ask for them, and that's what I tried to do."

Carroll said: "They both played amazing today. Hopefully this is their coming-out game and they can keep that up for the rest of the season."

The overtime loss was the third straight for the Blue Jays, who need to finish .500 for better to be eligible for the NCAA tournament.

"While I'm disappointed about the outcome, I don't think the fans were disappointed with the game," Hopkins coach Dave Pietramala said. "It's two very good teams that went after each other today, tooth and nail, blow and blow. It was a good game for the sport of lacrosse."
 

UVa rallies past Johns Hopkins
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
March 22, 2008

When twin brothers Rhamel and Shamel Bratton - two of the most highly-touted lacrosse prospects to come along in years - came to Charlottesville on their recruiting visit, Virginia coach Dom Starsia took them to Klockner Stadium.

“[He] showed us on the jumbotron,” recalled Rhamel Bratton. “[He] told us how the stands are filled and everyone’s on the hill.

“You don’t quite realize [the atmosphere] until you play a game with it and experience it.”

On Saturday afternoon, the freshmen had that opportunity.

No. 2 Virginia, thanks to a goal by sophomore Brian Carroll with just 7.7. seconds left in overtime - and behind a strong performance from the Bratton brothers - defeated No. 6 Johns Hopkins 13-12 in front of a record crowd of 7,579 at Klockner Stadium.

“I found myself standing on the sideline late in the game, saying ‘What a great game,’” said Starsia, whose team improved to a perfect 9-0. “I was interested in trying to win the game, but I was also appreciating the atmosphere of this day. It was a great moment for Virginia lacrosse.”

The crowd, which was nearly double the size of the one that the men’s basketball team drew for its game in the CBI earlier in the week, was into the game from the opening face-off. Both schools had their bands in the grandstand as fans completely filled the adjacent hills.

With the win, Virginia (9-0) got to keep the Doyle Smith Cup, which it had won the previous two years. UVa, by virtue of top-ranked Duke’s loss to Georgetown, will likely move up to No. 1 in the polls this week.

Meanwhile, reigning NCAA champion Johns Hopkins (3-3) lost its third straight game. All of the defeats have come in overtime.

It was Shamel Bratton who orchestrated Carroll’s game-winner. With about 15 seconds left, the he took a pass on the wing and drove hard to the goal. When the

defense converged, Bratton found Carroll who fired a shot past Blue Jays goalie Michael Gvozden from 12 yards out.

“The crowd started getting a little louder,” Bratton said. “Usually that means the clock’s running out, so I just tried to make a play.

“They slid to me. I just found Carroll, who’s a great finisher. I didn’t even hesitate to pass him the ball.”

Carroll became the first player in Virginia history to have two overtime goals in one season. Carroll’s first came in the 14-13 win over Syracuse earlier this month.

“I was falling down and just had to get it off,” Carroll explained. “I think it skimmed off [Gvozden’s] side and went in.”

Carroll was mobbed by his teammates as the Klockner crowd went berserk.

“It was crazy,” said Carroll, when asked about the atmosphere. “The Hopkins game is one of the biggest. To hit that shot was unbelievable.”

Hopkins led 3-2 at the end of the first quarter before Shamel Bratton knotted things up less than two minutes into the second. A wicked shot by Carroll with 5.5 seconds remaining in the half put Virginia up 6-5 heading into the break.

Rhamel Bratton gave UVa an 8-6 lead at the 7:27 mark of the third quarter. After Hopkins tied the game at 8 on a goal by Matt Dolente, neither team led by more than one goal the rest of the way.

The Blue Jays led 12-11 with under a minute to play, but coughed up the ball as a result of a Mike Timms check. That led to a Ben Rubeor goal that forced the extra session.

Before Saturday’s game, the Brattons each had nine points, with some people questioning whether they were as good as advertised. Against Hopkins, the brothers combined for six points.

“I’m a freshman, so I’ve just had to get used to the [college] game,” Shamel Bratton said. “It took about halfway through the season to understand what I needed to do better and the things that the coaches wanted me to do.”

Added Rhamel: “Coach doesn’t lean too heavy on us as freshmen, but he definitely wants us to play our best, especially on a big stage like this versus Hopkins.

“He just puts us out there and believes in us, and we do our job I guess.”


 

Hopkins sinks in OT
Virginia poised to take No. 1 spot; Carroll ricochets shot to win game
By Edward Lee | Sun Reporter
March 23, 2008
 

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Overtime continues to be unkind to the Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse team.

For the third consecutive game, the Blue Jays were extended to an extra period of play, and for the third straight time, they finished on the losing end.

This time, sophomore midfielder Brian Carroll recorded the game-winner with 7.7 seconds left in overtime to send No. 2 Virginia to a 13-12 win against No. 8 Johns Hopkins before a lacrosse-record announced crowd of 7,579 at Klockner Stadium yesterday.

After the game, several Blue Jays players sunk to their knees or leaned against the stadium wall in stunned silence.

"It's extremely frustrating," said senior midfielder Paul Rabil, who posted a hat trick and one assist. "We've got to be able to pull one out somehow. That's what we've been working on in practice, and we can't seem to get it yet."

The Cavaliers' victory was not only the program's third consecutive against Johns Hopkins, but it will also likely vault Virginia into the top spot in many polls after current No. 1 Duke fell to No. 10 Georgetown, 11-7, yesterday.

Yesterday's outcome was perhaps even more puzzling to the Blue Jays (3-3) considering that sophomore goalkeeper Michael Gvozden got a piece of Carroll's goal.

The play was similar to the one the Cavaliers (9-0) used to nip Syracuse by a goal in overtime at the Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic at M&T Bank Stadium on March 1.

The play began with Virginia freshman midfielder Shamel Bratton making a dodge on the right wing. After drawing a Johns Hopkins defender, Bratton passed the ball up top to Carroll, who wound up and took aim at the right side of the net.

Gvozden said the shoulder-height shot smacked his right glove squarely before popping into the upper right corner and ending the game.

"It just hit my glove and went up into the corner," said Gvozden, who finished with 17 saves, eclipsing his previous career high of 11. "It was a good shot. I don't want to take away anything from Brian. He's a good shooter. But it's just one of those where you get a piece and it goes in. We just need to catch a break."

Added Carroll, a Gilman graduate who posted two goals and an assist: "I was aiming for the right side. I just caught it and something was open there, and I tried to place it there."

There were nine ties and four lead changes, but Johns Hopkins led just three times -- late in the first quarter and twice in the fourth.

Trailing 10-9 midway through the fourth quarter, the Blue Jays went on a 3-1 run sparked by Rabil -- who had a goal and an assist, including a nifty pass to junior attackman Tom Duerr, who gave Johns Hopkins a 12-11 lead with 3:08 left.

But despite winning the ensuing faceoff, the Blue Jays could not maintain possession to either run out the clock or add to their lead. Rabil's pass to sophomore midfielder Michael Kimmel was tipped away by a Cavaliers defender, and Virginia grabbed possession.

With 56.3 seconds left, senior attackman Ben Rubeor quickly flicked a shot that eluded Gvozden and found the lower right corner of the net to tie the score at 12.

Johns Hopkins had been 13-2 all time in overtime under coach Dave Pietramala until this season.

"We're three goals away from being 6-0, but that's neither here nor there," he said. " ... We're a pretty good lacrosse team. Everybody's going to write us off because we've got three losses, but we're a pretty good lacrosse team."

The Blue Jays got two goals and two assists from senior midfielder Stephen Peyser. Senior attackman Kevin Huntley added two goals.

Freshman midfielder Shamel Bratton paced the Cavaliers with a hat trick and an assist, and Rubeor chipped in with a hat trick. Junior attackman Danny Glading finished with four assists.

edward.lee@baltsun.com

Hopkins 3 2 3 4 0 -- 12

Virginia 2 4 3 3 1 -- 13

Goals: H--Rabil 3, Peyser 2, Huntley 2, Christopher, Duerr, Doneger, Dolente, Bryan; V--S. Bratton 3, Rubeor 3, Carroll 2, R. Bratton 2, Billings 2, Giannone. Assists: H--Boyle 2, Peyser 2, Christopher, Rabil; V--Gladding 4, S. Bratton, Carroll. Saves: H--Gvozden 17; V--Ghitelman 10.

 

No. 2 Virginia Edges No. 6 Johns Hopkins in Overtime

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - Brian Carroll's goal with 7.7 seconds remaining in overtime helped send Virginia past Johns Hopkins 13-12 before a Klöckner Stadium record crowd of 7579. The win is the third in a row for Virginia over the Blue Jays as the Doyle Smith Cup that is presented to the winner of the game remains with the Cavaliers for another year. Carroll's OT winner is his second of the season; he also scored with 1:29 left in overtime to defeat Syracuse three weeks ago.

The win is the ninth in a row for the Cavaliers. With Duke's loss to Georgetown earlier in the day, they remain one of only two remaining undefeated teams; Quinnipiac is 6-0. The loss by Duke is also likely to move Virginia into the top spot in the polls next week. Johns Hopkins falls to 3-3 this season after playing its third overtime game in a row for the first time in school history. The game featured nine ties and three lead changes in regulation and was characterized by back-and-forth scoring throughout.

"I found myself standing on the sideline late in the game thinking, 'what a great game," said Virginia head coach Dom Starsia. "I was interested in trying to win the game, but I also was appreciating the atmosphere and this day was a great moment for Virginia lacrosse. For us to get this win and be able to keep the Doyle Smith Cup here, there are a lot of things to like about this moment."

Virginia senior Ben Rubeor sent the game into overtime with his third goal of the day with 56.3 seconds remaining. His goal forced the fourth tie of the final quarter as the Cavaliers twice rallied from one-goal deficits in the final four minutes of regulation to force overtime.

"We kept battling. I don't think anybody lost their poise and everybody was focused in the huddles," said Starsia about his team's play late in the game. "It was less about trying to win or lose as it was about trying to make a play. I thought we made plays at both ends of the field in order to win the game."

Freshman Shamel Bratton gave the Cavaliers a 10-9 lead with 7:38 to play in regulation, but Brian Christopher and Paul Rabil scored back-to-back goals to give the Blue Jays an 11-10 lead with 4:02 remaining. Garrett Billings tied the game with a very difficult shot from the left side at the 3:23 mark. The tie was shortlived, however, as Rabil grabbed the ground ball off the faceoff and found Tom Duerr cutting toward the goal. Duerr's second goal of the season came at the 3:08 mark and gave the Blue Jays their second one-goal advantage as 12-11.

Virginia's Brian McDermott won the faceoff following Rubeor's tying goal and Virginia called timeout with 50.7 seconds remaining. Rubeor's attempt at a game winner with 20 seconds remaining hit off the post, but Virginia was unable to get off another shot before time expired.

The Blue Jays won the overtime faceoff but took one shot before turning the ball over. The Cavaliers gave it right back once in their offensive zone. Stephen Peyser misfired on a shot on Hopkins' second possession. Virginia gained possession as Matt Kelly backed up the shot as it went out of bounds with 1:25 left. For the second time in a row Virginia turned the ball over as Garrett Billings' pass from X was intercepted by goalie Michael Gvozden.

On the ensuing clear attempt, Peyser was ruled offsides giving the ball back to Virginia with 31 seconds left. With no timeouts remaining, Virginia worked the ball around before Shamel Bratton found Carroll free from 12 yards out for the winning shot.

"If you get the ball in Brian Carroll's hands at 12 yards you like your chances at the end of the day," Starsia said. "Because we didn't have a time out, there wasn't really a set play. We were just scrambling a little bit. Shamel can force a slide and get the defense moving and the ball winds up in Brian's hands and we're fortunate that he gets a shot and cans it."

Virginia goalie Adam Ghitelman finished with 10 saves, including several from point blank range. The Cavaliers also got good faceoff play from McDermottt, who won 13 of 22 attempts.

The Cavaliers open ACC play next Saturday (March 29) at Maryland. The game is slated to face off at noon and will be the first regular-season lacrosse game televised on ESPN2.

 

Orange's Hunter chooses Virginia
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
March 22, 2008

For the first time since 2004, Virginia’s football program has secured a verbal commitment from a four-star prospect from Central Virginia.

Quintin Hunter, the starting quarterback at Orange County High, became the fourth player for the Class of 2009 to commit to the Cavaliers after he exposed top-secret information Saturday.

“I told one of Virginia’s assistant coaches that I had a secret,” Hunter joked, “but I knew I had to tell coach [Al] Groh first. He said this was a great day for Virginia and the coaching staff.”

Hunter, an All-Region II and All-Central Virginia performer, picked UVa over an ever-growing offer list that was highlighted by the likes of Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Georgia.

“It was getting tougher and tougher every day and more and more colleges were [offering scholarships],” Hunter said. “All of a sudden I felt good about saying that I wanted to go to Virginia. I sat down with my parents and told them and they said, ‘Is this where you want to go?’

“I said, ‘yeah,’ and I committed [Saturday].”

Hunter accounted for 29 touchdowns, passing for 2,065 yards and running for 846 more for the Hornets this year as a junior. As a sophomore, Hunter was used as a wide receiver in the high-powered offense led by former quarterback Bradley Starks, now at West Virginia, another school that offered Hunter.

For now, Hunter’s spot at Virginia is strictly as an athlete, but he has discussed playing wideout with his primary recruiter, assistant coach Wayne Lineburg, and playing quarterback with offensive coordinator Mike Groh.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder is also an accomplished defensive back, having been named the 2007 Jefferson District defensive player of the year and a first-team all-region selection.

Hunter becomes the

highest-profile local player to commit to UVa since defensive end Chris Long from St. Anne’s-Belfield. Long is expected to be one of the top picks in the NFL Draft next month.

“It’s an honor to almost be in the same category as Chris Long,” said Hunter, who has been timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash. “He’s one of the best players to ever go through Virginia.”

Hunter, who sports a 3.5 GPA, was ranked as the nation’s 242nd-best prospect for the 2009 class by rivals.com. He joins running backs Alex Owah (Harrisonburg) and Dominique Wallace (Fredericksburg) as in-state commitments in a class that also includes Maryland athlete Caleb Porzel.

 

Parker makes Cavs walk-off winners
By Bart Isley / risley@dailyprogress.com | 978-7240
March 22, 2008

Everyone at Davenport Field knew that Jarrett Parker needed a hit. Bad.

After posting an 0 for 8 run with six strikeouts over two games in Virginia’s series with Boston College, the freshman came to the plate in the bottom of the 10th inning with Corey Hunt at second base and the contest deadlocked.

“Right before the pitch, I said to [first baseman] Jeremy Farrell that if anyone could benefit from a walk-off, it’s Jarrett,” said Virginia starter Pat McAnaney. “And he agreed.”

So did everyone else. Parker got it, connecting on a middle-in fastball for a single to right field that scored Hunt, a Monticello High product, and set off a wild celebration that culminated in a dogpile on top of Parker near first base.

“I’m on cloud nine right now,” Parker said.

Parker, who hadn’t had a hit in 12 at bats before the walk-off single, had been hitting at a solid .305 clip on the season, but had struggled of late. The single was his first-ever walk-off hit.

“You have to have a short memory and you have to forget those at-bats, because there are going to be opportunities late in the game,” said Virginia coach Brian O’Connor. “That’s a winner in my book, they keep hanging in there.”

Parker got the opportunity to redeem himself because of a game-tying single by Dan Grovatt in the bottom of the ninth. Grovatt, another major freshman contributor, also struggled at the plate before connecting on the single.

Sophomore left-hander Neal Davis, pitched the ninth and 10th to pick up the win. Davis allowed just one hit and fanned three batters including two strikeouts in the top of the 10th. He also initiated a critical successful pickoff in that inning to end the Boston College threat.

McAnaney, who benefited from Davis’ performance against Duke last Friday because of the two pitchers’ similar approaches, was impressed with Davis’ outing.

“It was kind of flipped, and that was a great hold by him,” McAnaney said.

McAnaney threw a solid 6.2 innings, striking out eight while scattering six hits and surrendering just a single earned run.

The senior left-hander escaped a crucial jam in the top of the second. With two men on after surrendering a double and a walk, the Cavs

(18-4, 4-4 ACC) nabbed the runner at second on a fielder’s choice bunt to put runners on the corner with one out. McAnaney then induced a pop fly that catcher Franco Valdes pulled down in foul territory while colliding with third baseman Tyler Cannon.

McAnaney then struck out Boston College No. 9 hitter Marc Perdios to get out of the inning unscathed.

Jake Rule came in for McAnaney and surrendered the tying and go-ahead runs in the seventh after inheriting a runner. Virginia tied the contest in the bottom of the eighth when Valdes blooped a single into left field to knot the game at 3-3.

It didn’t take long for Boston College (9-10, 2-6) to strike back. The Eagles took a 4-3 lead when Rule gave up two straight singles including RBI up the middle to Tony Sanchez. Davis took over from there and shut down Boston College, which set up Grovatt’s single in the bottom of the ninth.

Tyler Cannon went 3 for 4 for the Cavaliers while Phil Gosselin went 2 for 4 with an RBI as Virginia’s designated hitter.

Sanchez led the Eagles with a 3 for 4 outing. Eric Campbell went 2 for 5 while knocking in a pair of RBI.

Virginia gets a chance to jump over .500 in the ACC today at 1 p.m. in the series finale with the Eagles.

 

Cavaliers surge back into tourney
By DAVE JOHNSON | 247-4649
8:13 PM EDT, March 22, 2008
 

NORFOLK - For those who understand the history of NCAA women's basketball, consider this: Of the 12 players on the University of Virginia's roster, only one — senior point guard Sharnee Zoll — has played in an NCAA tournament game.

Time was when the Cavaliers were an NCAA fixture. They made 20 consecutive appearances from 1984-2003. Only Tennessee, Louisiana Tech and Stanford had longer streaks.

But not only is Virginia (23-9) back in the field, it is seeded higher (fourth) than it has been since the 2000 tournament.

"We played in the NIT the last two years, and that was a very good experience for us," U.Va. coach Debbie Ryan said. "But we knew all along that where Virginia wanted to be was in the NCAA tournament.

"We're a team that in years past was pretty much a steady performer in the NCAA. So when we didn't make it, it was very difficult for us. This particular team took it upon (itself) to return us to the NCAA tournament knowing the importance of it."

Now that they're here, the Cavaliers want more than just an appearance.

"You can't put too much pressure on yourself, but you also have to realize it's not all fun and games," Zoll said. "It's not like during the season where if you lose a game, you already have another one scheduled."

A LITTLE HELP
A half hour after Old Dominion found out it was opening against Liberty in the Greensboro bracket, Lady Monarchs coach Wendy Larry was asked how long it would take to obtain her first tape of the Lady Flames. Without saying a word, she held up a video cassette and smiled.

Thank you, Carolyn Disparti. She's a long-time ODU fan who helps out by taping as many TV games as humanly possible. Disparti, who has DirecTV, had the foresight to tape last weekend's Big South final between Liberty and Radford — among several others. It gave Larry a head start.

"I used up about four tapes, and each tape had about six or eight games," Disparti said. "It's something I can do to help."

Disparti graduated from Old Dominion in 1994 after spending 26 years in the Navy.

CHANGING GAME
In the past month, Liberty has lost two players and picked up one.

Moriah Frazee, the Lady Flames' second-leading scorer, and Rebecca Lightfoot, a starting forward, are out with knee injuries. But Egle Smigelskaite, the team's tallest player at 6-foot-5, is back after missing the first 26 games with a foot injury.

"We would not be wise to think we can be the same team," LU coach Carey Green said. "The chemistry has changed. We're not the same team we were three weeks ago. But we're still a team that can compete and be successful."

But facing a team that regularly uses nine players, the timing couldn't be much worse.

"I'm comfortable with the players we'll have on the floor," Green said. "But depth is where they have the advantage."

FAMILIAR TERRITORY
For the fourth consecutive year, North Carolina is a No. 1 seed. But the Tar Heels would like a better ending this time.

Not that losing in the national semifinals, which UNC (30-2) has done the past two seasons, is any great shame. But the program is looking for its first national title since 1994, when Charlotte Smith's last-second 3-pointer beat Louisiana Tech in Richmond.

"The last two years we made it to the Final Four, but we felt like we maybe didn't go as far as we should have," UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "All year long, they have had the attitude of unfinished business."

SHORT TAKES
Green had some good news to share: His first grandson, Joshua David Grunkemeyer was born Friday morning. Green had three pictures on his cell phone, which he gladly shared with reporters. "This keeps things in perspective." … Hatchell on playing in Norfolk: "Not many times (do) you get to have an Easter weekend and stay on the beach and play basketball. I don't know how much better it can get." … Larry on the same subject: "The saying goes, 'There's no place like home.' We'll see about that. We'll reserve judgment." … Ryan on playing at 9:30 tonight: "We practiced at 9:30 the other night and, I'll tell you, it was one of our best practices. The only problem was keeping me awake."

ODU, U.Va. aim to use reserves to wear out foes
Sunday, Mar 23, 2008 - 12:07 AM
By VIC DORR JR.
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

NORFOLK If you've got it, flaunt it. Old Dominion and Virginia have it - depth, that is - and intend to flaunt it in tonight's opening round of the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament.

The Cavaliers and Lady Monarchs, seeded fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Greensboro Region, expect to use eight or possibly nine players in tonight's games. By doing so, they hope to create a swift end-to-end flow that will unleash both clubs' speed and athleticism.

"We want to push until you get tired," said ODU forward Jessica Canady, typically the first of many reserves to leave the Lady Monarchs' bench. "If we get tired, there's always somebody fresh waiting to come in and keep pushing."

The extent to which the 11th-ranked Lady Monarchs (29-4) can push likely will hold the key to tonight's 7 o'clock date with 12th-seeded Liberty (28-3). The Flames, taller and stronger but less eager to sprint, would prefer to play a halfcourt game that will showcase the considerable skills of junior forward Megan Frazee, the Big South player of the year.

"I think transition tempo will determine the outcome," Lady Monarchs coach Wendy Larry said. "If we have to walk the ball up court and attack them that way, I'm sure they'll feel pretty good about things. I'm sure they'll like what's happening. But if we get a stop defensively and rebound the basketball and get out in transition, now all of a sudden, we have a number of places we can attack them."

Canady, a 6-1 whirlwind, hasn't started a game this year but is averaging 10.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 23.9 minutes. She is the key member of a group Larry refers to as her "second wave" - three cat-quick reserves who can sustain, if not elevate, the tempo established by ODU's starters.

Said Larry: "You gain an edge, I think, when you can bring in that second wave of players around the 15or 12-minute mark of the second half and then push it to a different speed altogether."

Liberty seems ill-equipped to handle such an onslaught. The Flames recently lost two frontcourt regulars, Moriah Frazee and Rebecca Lightfoot, to ACL injuries. Four of their five starters played at least 32 minutes in last Sunday's Big South title game.

"That's probably my primary concern," Flames coach Carey Green said. "I feel comfortable with the people we put on the floor [for the opening tip]. But we're just not as deep as we were, and that's where they have an advantage, and there's nothing we can do about it."

No. 24 Virginia (23-9) faces 13th-seeded UC Santa Barbara (23-7) tonight at 9:30. Ten Virginia players are averaging at least nine minutes. The Cavaliers, appearing in the NCAA playoffs for the first time following a two-year absence, are a different team - creative, clever, happily efficient - when they establish and maintain a brisk pace. When their offensive tempo lags, Virginia's spirits often do likewise.

Cavaliers coach Debbie Ryan seldom contradicts Sharnee Zoll, her senior point guard and the owner of the ACC's career assists record. But Ryan did so during yesterday's pre-tournament press conference when Zoll spoke of the Cavaliers' need to approach tonight's game in businesslike fashion.

Said Ryan: "I can't imagine this team being all about business. I'll be honest with you: If we're not having fun, we're just not very good."

 

Cavs to stay up late for NCAAs
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
March 22, 2008

NORFOLK - Coffee would appear to be the beverage of choice tonight on Virginia’s bench.

Luckily, those in Debbie Ryan’s inner circle know the Cavaliers’ women’s basketball coach has never consumed the steamy beverage.

Despite playing in the nightcap this evening, a game that may stretch well past her usual bedtime, Ryan can use the excitement attached to a long-awaited return to the NCAA Tournament as her late-night stimulant.

After a two-year hiatus, UVa (23-9) is back in basketball’s Big Dance with a showdown against 13th-seeded UC Santa Barbara (23-7) in a contest slated to start tonight at approximately 9:30 p.m. on national television (ESPN2).

“We are a team that, in years past, was pretty much a steady performer in the NCAA Tournament, so when we didn’t make the tournament, it was very difficult for us,” Ryan said Saturday during a press conference at Old Dominion’s Constant Center.

“And I think this particular team took it upon themselves to return to the NCAA Tournament, knowing the importance of the NCAA Tournament.”

Yes, Virginia had been a mainstay in March Madness - the Cavs are one of six programs to play in at least 22 tournaments - but back-to-back trips to the Women’s NIT left many questioning the future of the program.

Picked to finish sixth in the ACC preseason poll this season, Virginia exceeded all expectations. The Cavs finished tied for third with Duke and landed in both national polls for the first time since 2003.

Through it all, Ryan said, her players kept their eyes on the bigger prize.

“We knew all along that where Virginia wanted to be was the NCAA Tournament,” she said, “and this team has done a great job of getting us back there.”

The Cavs’ mission now shifts towards survival.

“We can’t put too much pressure for any type game, but we also have to realize that it’s not all fun and games,” said Virginia point guard Sharnee Zoll. “It’s not like in the middle of the season where if you lose a game, you already have the next one scheduled.

“If we lose, we go home and our season is done, so we have to realize that.”

With a path to the Final Four that could include dates at Old Dominion on Tuesday, against top-seeded Connecticut on Sunday and No. 2 seed Rutgers in the Elite Eight, the Cavaliers are focused solely on their first foe.

“I think our coaches have done a good job of making sure that we are disciplined just to focus on the first game, and get through the first game and focus on the next opponent,” said Virginia forward Lyndra Littles. “That’s what we are going to do.”

Thanks to technology and a network of friends, Ryan and her staff had help constructing a game plan for tonight’s

contest with the Gauchos.

“I have seen just about every game that they’ve played out of conference and several games in conference, as well,” Ryan said.

The footage reminded Ryan of what she witnessed in 2000 and 2001 when the two programs split a pair of games in a home-and-home series.

“Every UC Santa Barbara team I have faced is excellent and I didn’t expect this one to be different,” the coach said. “They are a very aggressive defensive team, an excellent rebounding team and I just think they play a style that [coach Mark French] has played for years.”

UCSB averages nine steals per game and has won 22 of the 24 games in which it scored at least 60 points.

“They are going to press a little bit and try to make you make mistakes,” Ryan said. “They are also a very good execution team defensively so we know that we have our work cut out for us.”