Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 24, 1993 TAG: 9305230078
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BALTIMORE LENGTH: Medium
It looked like a blowout Saturday when the Cavaliers took a three-goal lead after three quarters in the Division I men's lacrosse playoffs, and that's what it was.
Fourth-ranked Johns Hopkins scored the last seven goals and handed No. 5 Virginia a 14-10 setback in one of the Cavaliers' most ignominious late-game collapses.
"We knew, once we scored two or three goals, that they'd begin to doubt themselves because that's been their past," Hopkins junior Brian Piccola said. "That's what happened."
Piccola had three goals and four assists. Fellow attackman Terry Riordan scored four goals, including the eventual game-winner that made it 11-10 with 6:59 remaining.
"I know there are a lot of questions about Virginia," first-year UVa coach Dom Starsia said, "but I feel for these guys. It's been a harrowing season; we've been through a lot."
Starsia no doubt was referring to five one-goal games, four of which were decided in overtime. But a berth in the final four looked like a distinct possibility Saturday when UVa went ahead 10-7.
Johns Hopkins (12-2) seized the momentum, however, when Scott Mollica stripped the ball from UVa's Kevin Pehlke and Riordan scored to make it 10-8 with 13:18 left.
It was the first of three goals in 3:47 for the Blue Jays, who will meet top-seeded North Carolina in the semifinals next Saturday at Maryland's Byrd Stadium. Hopkins last made the semifinals in 1989.
"All you ever hear in the preseason is about how good Virginia is," Hopkins coach Tony Seaman said. "We knew what kind of team [the Cavaliers] were talent-wise, but it's a game of runs. It takes 60 minutes."
After blowing a two-goal lead to fall behind 5-4, the Cavaliers tied the score on a goal by Chris Driggs before halftime. It was the first of four straight goals by UVa, which took its first three-goal lead at 8-5.
When the Blue Jays started their comeback, it wasn't confined to the offensive end. Pehlke, who entered the game with 34 goals, was limited to a pair of assists by Hopkins defenseman Tom Sullivan.
"In the first quarter I missed some shots that normally go for me," Pehlke said. "But things were going so well for our midfielders offensively that I didn't have to force anything."
When it came time for Pehlke to do his thing, more often than not he didn't have the ball. Hopkins senior Steve Vecchione won five of seven faceoffs in the fourth quarter and was 19-9 overall.
"What Vecchione does for Hopkins is, he makes it easier to make a run and he makes it easier to stop a run," Starsia said. "It's like having Roger Clemens every third or fourth day in baseball."
The most unusual aspect of the game was an absence of penalties. Neither team was penalized until Virginia was whistled for a slash after the goal that gave Hopkins a 12-10 lead with 5:38 left.
The Cavaliers seemed to lose their cool at that point - a push by UVa goalie James Ireland led to Hopkins' only extra-man goal with 1:35 left - but Starsia refused to blast his team, as he had after an 11-9 regular-season loss to the Blue Jays.
"I think we stood around a little bit in the first game," Starsia said. "They took the play to us. I didn't feel that way today. I'm frustrated. I'm disappointed. But, I'm proud of the way we prepared."
UVa alternated between man-to-man and zone defense, switching to zone whenever elusive Hopkins midfielder Todd Cavallaro was in the game. It was the first time the Cavaliers had used zone all season.
"Winning is a habit," Starsia said, "and Johns Hopkins just got it done in the fourth quarter. I'm sorry we gave up the seven straight goals, but this isn't the last big game we'll have with them."
NOTE: see microfilm for statistics.
by CNB