MLAX hosts UVA in home opener
Feb 20 | Men's Lacrosse
| No. 6/5 Virginia at Rutgers | |
| Date | Saturday, February 21, 2015 |
| Time | 12:00 p.m. ET |
| Location | Piscataway, N.J. | High Point Solutions Stadium |
| Live Video | Danny Breslauer and Rick Mercurio |
| Live Stats | |
| Game Notes | Rutgers | Virginia |
| Rutgers Info | Quick Facts | Record Book |
| RVision | Behind the Scenes: #RUMLax Intro Video |
| Statistics | Rutgers | Virginia |
| Social Media | @RUMLAx  | Facebook/RutgersMLAX  |
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers will take on a top-10 foe in its home opener as the team gets set to host No. 6/5 Virginia at High Point Solutions Stadium. The game will begin at 12 p.m., moved up one hour from the original game time.
The game marks the first of five straight home games for the Scarlet Knights after opening the year with two road matchups. The game will be streamed live by BTN Plus, with Danny Breslauer and Rick Mercurio calling the action. The stream can be found here.
RU is looking to rebound after taking a 15-7 loss at Richmond last Saturday. Scott Bieda tallied two goals for the Scarlet Knights, while Chad Toliver scored his first career goal en route to being named Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week. For the season, Christian Trasolini (four goals, one assist) is tied with Bieda (three goals, two assists) for the team lead with five points. Joe Nardella is 24-of-38 (.631) at the faceoff "X" with a team-high 15 ground balls, and Kris Alleyne has stopped 20 shots in net.
Virginia has opened the season with a pair of victories over ranked foes. The Cavaliers won a 13-12 game on the road at No. 7 Loyola (Md.) to open the season, and toppled No. 16 Drexel 14-10 at home last weekend. Offensively, Ryan Lukacovic paces the squad with eight points (four goals, four assists), while Greg Coholan has a team-high five goals. Zed Williams and Owen Van Arsdale also have scored four times for UVA. In goal, Matt Barrett has stopped 21 shots while allowing 22 goals for a .488 save percentage and 11.00 goals allowed per game.
The Cavaliers were 10-6 last season and made the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time in the past 10 seasons. In 23 seasons under head coach Dom Starsia, UVA has made 20 NCAA appearances and won four national championships. UVA holds a 5-4 edge in the all-time series, winning the past three meetings, including a 19-12 game last season in Charlottesville. In last year's game, returners Rich Rambo (2), Christian Trasolini, and Brian Goss scored goals, while Kris Alleyne made 21 saves against 18 goals allowed and Joe Nardella was 10-of-13 on face-offs.
