CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia men’s lacrosse team returns home to Klöckner Stadium Saturday when the Cavaliers (6-2) host Johns Hopkins (5-1) for a non-conference tilt in the battle for the Doyle Smith Cup. Faceoff is set for 4:30 p.m. UVa is ranked No. 10 in the country while Johns Hopkins is ranked No. 8.
The game is the ninth annual battle for the Doyle Smith Cup, a spoil since 2006 that goes to the regular season winner in the series. Virginia and Johns Hopkins joined together to honor E. Doyle Smith, Jr., for his lifetime of contributions to the lacrosse programs at both schools and on the national level with the annual regular season winner laying claim to the cup. Smith served as team manager and statistician for Johns Hopkins under coach Bob Scott from 1963-68.
Mark Cockerton leads UVa and the nation with 28 goals, while James Pannell is No. 2 on the team with 24 goals. Cockerton leads UVa and the nation with 38 points. Ryan Tucker rounds out the top goal scorers with 15 scores, while Owen Van Arsdale has a team-best 20 assists and 27 points. Mick Parks leads UVa with 35 ground balls, while Joseph Lisicky has caused 11 turnovers. Matt Barrett is saving 43.5 percent of shots between the pipes and is posting a 12.0 goals against average.
JHU head coach Dave Pietrmala is in his 14th season with the Blue Jays and is coming off a 9-5 season in 2013. JHU failed to make the NCAA Tournament in 2013, the first time that has happened on Charles Street in 42 years, snapping the longest such streak in all of college sports. Ryan Brown leads Johns Hopkins with 23 goals and 31 points. Wells Stanwick has a team-high 20 assists and 29 points. Brandon Benn rounds out the top scorers with 14 goals and 18 points. Drew Kennedy is winning 68.4 percent of his draws at the faceoff X and has a team-best 64 ground balls. Eric Schneider is saving 58.1 percent of shots he has faced in between the pipes and is posting an 8.1 goals against average.
