Men’s Lacrosse: Cavaliers take down UAlbany in 12-9 victory

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Posted on Tuesday, Mar. 18, 2025, 9:17 pm

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By Colin Moore
JerryRatcliffe.com correspondent

Photo: UVA Athletics

Virginia made a statement early and held on for a 12-9 win over UAlbany Tuesday at Klöckner Stadium. The Cavaliers began on the front foot, scoring the first three goals.

UAlbany never backed down and continued to fight throughout, making it interesting towards the end before UVA made some great defensive plays and also scored on an empty net to make the final score 12-9.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

The Cavaliers (4-4) began this match extremely well, as the offense was clicking and the defense was making stops. This was a game of runs where both teams scored in bunches. Griffin Schutz, Charles Balsamo, and Truitt Sunderland scored on back-to-back-to-back possessions to open up the game for the Cavaliers.

UAlbany (2-6) answered back with two goals of their own to end the first quarter 3-2. UVA again started fast, with two quick goals from Ryan Colsey and Sunderland. Sunderland was able to capitalize off of the faceoff with two quick passes, with Cosley finding the last pass for the assist.

The Great Danes responded with two more goals with 5:30 remaining in the second quarter. The Cavaliers made a statement of their own two score two with the time remaining. This was caused by some great defensive rides causing UAlbany turnovers, making it 8-4. Sunderland made the Great Danes pay, scoring a hat trick in the first half.

The Hoos committed two big penalties towards the end of the half that allowed the Great Danes to start the second half with a two-man advantage and the ball.

Virginia managed to make a huge kill coming out of the locker room but UAlbany was still able to strike first with a great long-pole goal from Cade Galko, making it 8-5.

UVA’s McCabe Millon scored his second of the match right before UAlbany’s run of three consecutive goals. One of them being from Jackson Palumb, who scored from a great bounce shot just sneaking past UVA goalie Mathew Nunes.

The fourth quarter was played tight, with both teams making careless turnovers. The Hoos made 14 turnovers compared to the Great Danes’ 16. UVA’s Nunes made a few huge timely stops, preventing the Great Danes from getting within striking distance.

The Cavaliers had seven different goal scorers in this game, with Sunderland and Millon leading the way with three apiece. Millon also led the team in assists (2) and turnovers (5).

The ground ball leader was Cosley, who also had a 3-point night with 2 goals and 1 assist.

In net, Nunes, Ben Wayer and JP Lagunowich did well, as they only allowed 9 goals from 23 shots on goal from UAlbany.

ADDITIONAL NOTES
Courtesy UVA Media Relations

  • With 14 saves, Matthew Nunes (591) surpassed Adam Ghitelman (586) on UVA’s career saves list. Nunes is now third all-time behind Alex Rode (598) and Tillman Johnson (700).
  • Nunes’ 14 saves are second most by a UVA goalie in a single game so far this season.
  • UVA’s man-down unit held UAlbany scoreless on all four of its EMO chances.
  • The Cavalier man-down unit has now killed 30 of its opponents’ 34 EMO chances this year.
  • With one goal, Griffin Schutz tallied the 80th of his career. Schutz is also now in sole possession of No. 5 on UVA’s career points by a midfielder list, with 80 goals and 37 assists.
  • Schutz’s goal came on the first possession of the game 40 seconds in and gave the Hoos the lead for good.
  • Charles Balsamo, who transferred from Duke this past year, recorded his first career goal as a Cavalier.

WITH THE WIN…

  • Virginia (4-4) pulled back to .500 on the season and improved to 3-2 at home.
  • The Cavaliers improved to 3-0 in the all-time series with UAlbany, which began in 2005. All three meetings have been contested at Klöckner Stadium.
  • Lars Tiffany, who is in his ninth season at Virginia, improved 96-40 as UVA head coach.
  • Tiffany is also now 3-3 all-time against UAlbany head coach Scott Marr. Tiffany and Marr have previously coached for the Haudenosaunee national team.

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers face Utah for the One Love game at noon on Saturday at Klöckner stadium.