
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 23, 1994                   TAG: 9404230052
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium

UVA REACHES LACROSSE FINAL

As surprising as Virginia's loss to Duke in men's lacrosse seemed six days, it was even more unbelievable after Friday night.

Fourth-ranked UVa did what it was supposed to do in the first game, scoring early and often in a 19-13 victory over the Blue Devils in the ACC Tournament.

The Cavaliers, advancing to the championship game for only the second time since the tournament format started in 1989, will meet North Carolina at 1 p.m. Sunday at Klockner Stadium.

The Tar Heels, who are 5-0 in ACC Tournament finals, got three goals from senior attackman Gregg Langhoff and held off Maryland 8-7 at Scott Stadium. The semifinals were held at UVa's football stadium because it has lights.

"I couldn't wait for the sun to go down," UVa coach Dom Starsia said. "We're a pretty fast team to begin with, but the lights and the turf seem to accentuate our speed."

The Cavaliers (9-2) scored three goals in the first five minutes and led 6-1 after the first period. It was 12-4 at the half and UVa led by as much as 17-7 early in the fourth quarter.

"They stepped it up two notches and we knew they would," Duke coach Mike Pressler said. "The better team won tonight. They were the better team last week, and we were lucky."

The Blue Devils had defeated Virginia 9-8 at Klockner despite being outshot 49-26.

"If somebody had offered me a victory in that game, maybe I would have taken it," Virginia coach Dom Starsia said, "but it would have been a bad lesson. I knew a couple of days ago that we were going to be terrific."

Greg Traynor and Sean Miller had three goals apiece for Virginia, which got five points - two goals and three assists - from freshman Michael Watson. Scott Harrison had six goals for Duke (9-4).

Virginia led 19-10 before the Blue Devils scored three goals, two by Harrison, in the final 2:25. Starsia had pulled his veterans by that point to keep them fresh for Sunday.

"We've just been waiting for tonight's game," Traynor said. "We wanted to prove ourselves. I wouldn't say we were embarrassed [by the first Duke game], but it woke us up."

Virginia won its first game against North Carolina, 16-6, ending a lengthy Tar Heels' home winning streak.

by CNB