Normalcy has returned to the Virginia men?s lacrosse team since the defending national champions lost their season opener to No. 20 Drexel Feb. 18. The No. 8 Cavaliers (3-1) have won three straight games, including a 20-0 victory Monday against visiting VMI, while outscoring their opposition, 46-15.
None of this, including the Drexel loss, surprised junior attack Ben Rubeor.
Rubeor, a Loyola Blakefield graduate, said last year?s accomplishments ? going undefeated and winning the national title ? mean nothing to this year?s team as it adjusts to life without players like attack Matt Ward and midfielders Matt Poskay and Kyle Dixon. The trio finished their careers last season by combining to score 103 of Virginia?s 269 goals.
“A lot of teams have really had to take on new roles with different players,” Rubeor said. “You really need to learn how to win, especially when you lose some older guys and some key guys who have been through it and seen exactly what it takes for you to win and how you can be upset.”
Rubeor enters Saturday?s game against No. 7 Princeton with a team-high 13 goals and 21 points this season. He now has 113 points in his career and was second to Ward last season with 58 points (34 goals, 24 assists). However, Rubeor believes the biggest impact he can have on the team is helping younger players like sophomore attackmen Danny Glading and Garrett Billings become better players.
“That?s kind of the philosophy of this program,” Rubeor said. “Although we don?t treat freshmen and seniors differently, I think we?re very good at passing lessons down from past seasons and past experiences to the younger guys.”
Rubeor is one of nine Maryland natives on Virginia?s roster, with a number of them getting significant playing time. Like Rubeor, senior goalie Kip Turner (Severn) considers mentoring a big part of his responsibility as one of the team?s top veterans.
Turner has a 6.92 goals-against average and a .549 save percentage. He is in his third year as a starter after spending his freshman year as a backup to Tillman Johnson (St. Mary?s). Turner displayed his veteran poise Saturday when he finished with 12 saves after allowing six first-quarter goals in an 11-8 win over No. 12 Syracuse.
“I was a little nervous after the first quarter,” he said. “Obviously, I was a little shaken, but at halftime you?ve got to gather yourself as a goalie and move on from it.”
VIRGINIA NOTES
» Junior attack and co-captain Ben Rubeor tied his career-high with five goals in Virginia?s 20-0 win Monday over visiting VMI. He now has 113 points in his career.
» Senior goalie Kip Turner is 15-0 in his career at Virginia?s Klockner Stadium.
