University of Virginia Library

Stickmen Open Home Season Against Cornell

By Jim Wilson
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

For the past three years Cornell
has been the Ivy League lacrosse
champions. Last year they thought
that they deserved a share of the
carved up National title, but since
they did not play any of the
powerful Mid-Atlantic teams, they
were ranked only fifth in the
nation. This year they were ranked
sixth in pre-season polls and this
afternoon they play the Cavaliers
on the University Hall field.

Virginia and the Big Red will
face off for the first time ever at
one o'clock in the biggest early
season lacrosse game this year.
Cornell will be out to show that
they are as good as they think they
are in this their first game of the
year.

Cornell has many well
substantiated reasons for feeling
that they are a national power in
lacrosse. Many of them were
All-Ivy, if not All-American last
year. With potential All-Americans
at all positions, the Big Red
presents an awesome and
well-balanced appearance to any of
its opponents.

Cornell is best at the far ends of
the field with Al Rimmer and Glen
Mueller, two top Ivy League scorers
last year, at attack and Bob Rule,
honorable All-Ivy last year, in the
goal. In between the Big Red is
quite strong too. Leading their
midfielders are third Ivy scorer Bob
Shaw and Bill Molloy. Defense is
Cornell's weakest position and
there they have honorable mention
All-American John Burnap.

Last year Cornell's lacrosse team
set an Ivy League scoring record
and despite some losses through
graduation, this year's team has the
potential to break the record again.
They are very big physically,
balanced, experienced, and out to
prove that they have been playing
some of the best lacrosse in the
nation during the past few years. As
coach Glenn Thiel said about
Cornell, "They certainly have a
powerful team, and their play in
the Ivy League for the past few
years makes them a tough team to
beat. Their offense looks as strong
as ever, and in Rule and Buhman
they have two of the best goalies in
the country. If we hope to beat
them, we will need a superior team
effort at every position."

In the Latest Baltimore Sun
lacrosse rating, Virginia is rated
number one.