Virginia hoping for return title trip

Virginia
Key Players (Yr., Pos.): Steele Stanwick (Sr., A), Chris Bocklet (Sr., A.) Colin Briggs ( Sr., M) and Matt White (Jr., A,)

Noting the Cavaliers:  Head coach Dom Starsia’s squad features 30 returning lettermen — including seven starters — from last year’s NCAA title team. The Cavaliers went 13-5 and became the lowest seed (No. 7) and first five-loss team to win the NCAA title. UVa has advanced to the national semifinals in four consecutive seasons, but 2011 was the first finals for the Cavaliers since taking home the hardware in 2006. Virginia is the clear cut preseason No. 1.

Duke
Key Players (Yr., Pos.,): Rob Rotanz (Sr., M), Jordan Wolf (So., A) , Christian Walsh (So., A) , Sophomore Josh Dionne (So., A), Justin Turri (Sr., M), and Dan Wigrizer (Jr., G)  

Noting the Blue Devils: Expectations were low for Duke heading into 2011 because the Blue Devils lost their key core of fifth-year seniors who were responsible for a 2010 championship. The 2011 squad leaned on its underclassmen and made a surprise run to the national semifinals. Head coach John Danowski says this year’s team is neither young nor old and believes it is dangerous to expect too much from his sophomores. Duke’s big challenge this season will be to harness the energy and excitement of the young team as it develops into a veteran team.

Cornell
Key Players (Yr., Pos.,): Rob Pannell (Sr. A.), Connor English (Jr. A.), Jason Noble (Jr. D.) , Steve Mock (Jr. A.) Thomas Keith, (Jr. D.)

Noting the Big Red: After a very successful debut as head coach for the Big Red, Ben DeLuca enters his second season at the helm of the Cornell men’s program and will be looking for bigger and better things from the 2012 season. The Big Red, which has won at least a share of the past nine Ivy League titles, finished the 2011 campaign with a 14-3 record. Cornell also made its eighth consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament, where it advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to eventual national champion, Virginia. As the bulk of the 2011 team returns, the Big Red enters the 2012 campaign with great expectations. Cornell lost just seven letter winners and three starters from last season’s squad and will look to the reigning USILA National Player of the Year Rob Pannell to lead the offense, while preseason All-Americans Roy Lang and Jason Noble will anchor the midfield and defense, respectively.

Other Teams to Watch: Syracuse, Johns Hopkins, Denver, North Carolina, Maryland, Notre Dame, Villanova.

No. 1 Virginia — March 4: vs. No. 8 Syracuse March 24: vs. No.2 Johns Hopkins Apr. 13: vs. No. T3 Duke

No. 2 Johns Hopkins — March 24: vs. No. 1 Virginia  Apr. 1: vs. No. 10 North Carolina;Apr. 14 at No. 14 Maryland  

No. 8 Syracuse — March 25: vs. No. 10 Villanova April 10: at No. 3 Cornell April 24: at No. 9 Notre Dame 

No. 5 Denver — March 10: at. No. 17 Penn State March 18: at. No. 9 Notre Dame March 20: vs. No. 3 Cornell April 27: vs. No. T3 Duke

No. T3 Duke — Feb. 18: vs. No. 9 Notre Dame March 3: vs. No. 7 Maryland March 16: vs. No. 6 North Carolina April 13: vs. No. 1 Virginia