Why Virginia men’s lacrosse is dominating the NCAA
The University of Virginia men’s lacrosse team is the preseason ranked number 1 team this year, and the favorite to win the national title. Although they lost to the eventual national champion Terrapins in the quarterfinals of last year’s tournament, it is clear that they have what it takes to win the whole thing. And if they can pull this off, it will become their third championship within the last four years. But the secret to the Cavaliers success is embedded in their recruiting where year in and year out, they have set themselves apart as the best in the game.
The only thing harder than getting to the top is staying there
The Virginia men’s lacrosse team has been a title contender all throughout the past two decades. However, their recruiting as of late is responsible for them being the first back to back champion since 2014. Insidelacrosse ranks the best recruiting classes throughout each year, and over the past four years, the Cavaliers have anchored themselves in the top 5. They currently have the number 2 recruiting class from 2019, number 3 in 2020, number 5 in 2021, and the top class from 2022. It doesn’t matter that they have not been number 1 consistently. What does is that only one team has stayed in the top 5 with them throughout each of the past 4 years, and they are the Duke Blue Devils.
Interestingly enough Duke was the last team to go back to back as national champions in 2014 but since that point have only made the national title game once. With all the momentum of their past success, Virginia is officially the most talented team in the entire country this season, and everyone else seems to know this. Which is why they alone have 9 preseason all-american watch list candidates, more than any other team in the NCAA. Having one great recruiting class can change the tide of a program, but having 4 of them back to back is how you establish a lacrosse dynasty.
Go where no team has gone before
Aside from having the best players, Virginia has been willing to go wherever they have to in order to get them. Lacrosse does not offer full scholarships to it entire roster like football and basketball do in division 1. Yet that has not mattered too much where on a team with nearly 50 men, Virginia only has 11 players on their roster who are from within the state. No matter who you are or where you are from, if you are a top lacrosse player and the ranking systems seem to notice you, then the coaching staff at Virginia will have you on their recruiting board.
In addition, Virginia is recruiting so well and retaining those athletes at a level that doesn’t make transferring much of a concern. They currently only have 5 transfer athletes on their roster and interestingly two of them are state of Virginia products who originally left the state. Their recruiting pipeline also extends into Texas, Florida, California, and Canada, which is something that even Duke has not pulled off from all four. In the age of the transfer portal, establishing a strong team culture and maintaining that identity is harder than it has ever been. But Virginia has recruited from all over and convinced those athletes every year to buy in to becoming the best team in the entire nation.
The Bottom Line
A lot can happen in a lacrosse season, which is why we play the games. But Virginia has not been playing many games when it comes to recruiting, and the results speak for themselves. No team since the year 2000 has won 3 out of 4 national championships in a row. Yet this year’s Cavaliers have a chance to do it. And with more talent at their disposal than any other team in college lacrosse, only one question remains. Are you taking Virginia or the field?
KNOW THE GAME. WIN THE GAME.
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