Moore chosen as men’s lax Senior CLASS Award winner

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia attackman Matt Moore has been selected as the 2022 Senior CLASS Award winner in NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse.

The award, chosen by a vote of Division I men’s lacrosse coaches, national lacrosse media and fans, is given annually to the most outstanding senior or graduate-level student-athlete in Division I men’s lacrosse. Moore becomes the third student-athlete in UVA history to win the award, joining Ryan Conrad (men’s lacrosse) who won it in 2019 and Tyler Wilson (baseball) in 2011.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School^®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior or graduate student and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: classroom, community, character, and competition.

“My five years as a student-athlete at the University of Virginia taught me how important it is to have a strong work ethic, be able to balance priorities, gain the trust of my teammates and coaches, and how to lead through influence,” said Moore, who was drafted fourth overall in the 2022 PLL Draft by the Archers. “I’ve also learned the importance of giving back to my community and how sports, such as lacrosse, can be the spark that an underprivileged child needs to pursue a college degree, which I witnessed firsthand with organizations such as Harlem Lacrosse. I know that these experiences will stay with me for the rest of my life, and I could not be more grateful for my time as a student-athlete at UVA.”

Moore’s talent was on full display during his first season in Charlottesville. He featured in all but one game, in which he was given the night off, and tallied 19 goals and 15 assists. Moore’s incredible season saw him finish second all-time among Cavalier freshman in goals and points (34), and he was aptly named the ACC Freshman of the Year and to the All-ACC Tournament Team.

In his second season at Virginia, Moore cemented his status as one of the best players in the country. He recorded 46 goals and 43 assists, pacing the ACC in both assists and points (89). Moore also compared admirably to the rest of his peers as he finished eighth in the nation in assists and points. He started every game for the Cavaliers and not only became the first 40-goal, 40-assist player in program history, but also broke Doug Knight’s record for most points in a season. Leading Virginia to 17-3, Moore helped the Cavaliers reach the sport’s pinnacle as they were crowned NCAA Champions. He contributed 10 goals and 11 assists in the tournament and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Moore was also honored as an All-ACC and ACC All-Tournament Team selection, as well as a USILA All-America honorable mention, after winning the ACC Tournament with the Cavaliers.

Moore’s third season at Virginia was cut short due to the pandemic, but he made his mark in the limited action. In six games, he amassed an incredible 19 goals and 16 assists, which earned him a spot on Inside Lacrosse’s All-America second team.

In his return to action, Moore showed that his eye-opening start to his junior season was no fluke. He was a mainstay in the lineup once again, starting all but one game, and nabbed 33 goals and 34 assists on the year. He finished tenth in country in total points (67) and became just the fifth Cavalier in program history to reach the 100 goals and 100 assists marks. Moore received countless accolades including All-ACC, NCAA All-Tournament Team, USILA All-America third team, and All-America honorable mention by both Inside Lacrosse and the USA Lacrosse Magazine, but perhaps nothing was better than helping lead the Cavaliers to another National Championship — where he added four goals and two assists in the finale.

Moore was named a team captain for his last season with Virginia and continued to do what has made him one of the most successful players in the country. He tallied 26 goals and 26 assists on the season, again earning All-ACC and Inside Lacrosse All-America honorable mention recognition and leading the Cavaliers to a 12-4 finish.

Moore will finish his career with Virginia as one of the best to ever suit up for the Cavaliers. He is the program’s all-time leader in points (277) with 143 goals and 134 assists — and helped lead them to two National Championships during his five years on campus.

“You can let life take you where it will, or you can grab it by the horns and squeeze opportunities that come your way,” said Lars Tiffany, head coach of the Cavaliers. “Matt is winning this prestigious award having pursued the second option as he is extremely driven to realize the success in everything he puts his name on. We are especially impressed with Matt departing UVA with an impactful master’s degree from our Batten School along with many, many lacrosse accolades. Matt will be a force to reckon with in both his professional endeavors with Northrop Grumman and the PLL because of the tenacity he has harnessed to attack his studies, lacrosse, and community service, among other areas. It’s hard to imagine Matt not being with us in the locker room or on the field at Klöckner Stadium next year as he has been an exceptional teammate and captain.”

Even as he regularly featured for one of the winningest-programs in the last decade, Moore maintained his commitment to his studies. He earned his undergraduate degree in international relations and affairs and completed a master’s degree in leadership and public policy this year. Moore was named a 2021 USILA Scholar All-American and is a two-time Dean’s List, three-time ACC Academic Team, and three-time ACC Honor Roll recipient. He has accepted a job with Northrop Grumman, one of the largest global aerospace defense and security companies in the world.

Moore’s commitment to the Charlottesville community speaks volumes of him as well. While at the University of Virginia, Moore spent time volunteering with Start a Spark, Prolyfyck Run Crew, Seminole Lacrosse, Harlem Lacrosse, and the Special Olympics 10K.

“Matt Moore has continuously impressed us by never losing sight of his responsibilities as a student-athlete — even though he has been one of the most successful in recent years,” said Erik Miner, Executive Director of the Senior CLASS Award. “He has pursued excellence in the classroom and willingly made a difference in the community. Matt Moore is not only a champion on the field, but off of it as well. We are proud to congratulate Matt and Virginia for winning this award!”

For more information on the Senior CLASS Award All-Americans, visit SeniorCLASSAward.com.