University of Virginia Library

Cavalier Stickmen Travel To Hofstra,
Begin Defense Of 1972 NCAA Crown

By ALLEN IRISH

It will be seven Davids out
to bring down Goliath when
the NCAA lacrosse tournament
opens Saturday.

The Goliath, of course, is
Maryland, who has rolled to a
13-0 regular season record,
crushing everyone in its path.

The only blot on its record
is a 10-9 loss to the Cavaliers
in the final game of the Hero's
Tournament back in March.

For Virginia, this
tournament is shaping up like
the last one; the Cavaliers, who
tackle third-seeded Hofstra
Saturday at 1:30, are going
into the tourney as an
unseeded team, but are not
exactly a dark horse.

In addition to being the
only team to beat Maryland
this year, the Cavaliers are the
defending NCAA champs, a
fact that will insure that no
one will take them lightly.

In other first-round action,
Maryland will take on Brown
at College Park, and Army will
meet Washington and Lee at
Lexington. In the Cavaliers'
bracket, Johns Hopkins will
face Navy in Baltimore with
the winner meeting the
Virginia-Hofstra survivor.

According to lacrosse coach
Glenn Thiel, Hofstra has an
excellent squad, and is
particularly blessed in having
five "super" offensive players.
Steve Nastro, who leads
Hofstra on attack, is a small,
quick; scoring threat who
played well against Virginia
when he was a member of the
Navy squad.

Bobby Hiller, who is set at
crease attack, is a big, strong
player adept at setting picks.
Bobby August rounds out the
Flying Dutchmen's attack.

Hofstra's midfield rates as
one of their strongest points.
Phil Marino, a transfer student
from Maryland, is a great
one-on-one player, very strong
and quick with excellent
moves. Other players at
midfield are Rick Bautz, a 6'4"
240-pounder who leads the
creasemen, and Billy Read.

Hofstra also holds the
distinction of being the only
team the Wahoos play this year
to play a zone defense. Coach
Thiel says that in order to
score, the Cavalier offense will
have to be very patient, look
for the open man, and play
together as a team rather than
trying to score one-on-one.

This weekend's contest will
be the 'Hoos first encounter
with Astro Turf this year.
Coach Thiel believes that this
may give Hofstra an advantage,
but probably will not be one of
the key factors.

If the Cavaliers defeat the
Dutchmen Saturday, they will
face either West Point or old
friend Hopkins. If it is Johns
Hopkins as expected, then the
semifinal match will be played
Saturday May 26, at
Homewood Field in Baltimore.
Only if the Cadets upset the
Bluejays could the second
game be held in Scott Stadium,
as the higher ranked squad is
given the home field advantage.

If the Cavaliers hurdle the
first two obstacles, they will
probably confront Maryland in
the finals, which will be played
June 2 in Philadelphia's
Franklin Field. The big
question is whether Virginia
can stop the Terrapin
steamroller and reverse the
result of the May 5 encounter
at Scott Stadium, won by
Maryland, 17-7.