US Lacrosse Magazine released the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Men’s Preseason Top 20 on Jan. 2. Team-by-team previews will be unveiled on uslaxmagazine.com through the end of the month and will also appear as part of the magazine’s NCAA preview edition in February.

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No. 5 Virginia

2018 Record: 12-6 (1-3 ACC)
Coach: Lars Tiffany (3rd season at Virginia)

All-Time Record: 640-367-6
NCAA Appearances: 38
Final Fours: 22
Championships: 5

For Virginia’s defense, it’s time.

Time to emerge as a stronger unit, one with better communication.

Time for it to become if not the strength of a program built to run, then at the very least one that can provide some stability and consistency for a team capable of making a leap from a one-and-done NCAA tournament appearance last season.

“We took a nice step in Year 2, but we have to take a bigger step in Year 3,” coach Lars Tiffany said.

Tiffany could have been describing the entire Virginia program. The Cavaliers won an ACC tournament game — a real one, not the showcase game for the league’s leftover(s) — for the first time since 2013. It won 12 games for the first time since 2012.

In fact, he was sizing up his defense. Its most reliable player, Scott Hooper, graduated. Yet, there are still interesting pieces who will be counted upon to deliver this spring.

Senior Logan Greco started much of last season after redshirting in 2017. Kyle Kology got a starting nod in all but two games last season. The Cavaliers have to hope that experience provides a benefit this season.

“This is going to be a situation where we have some talented defensemen,” Tiffany said. “Some of the parts have to be better, and we have to have an improved team dynamic.” 

Tiffany thinks that’s coming based on the communication he witnessed in the fall. Some of that came on the field. Plenty of it came in the film room. His players are taking the game far better, he believes, than when he arrived in Charlottesville.

Virginia will have a new look at the defensive end, but not because of a schematic switch. Jared Connors, who scored five goals and added five assists as a valuable long pole, was bumped down to close defense for his junior year.

“We need him on the field more,” Tiffany said. “He might be someone who could take on covering an opponent’s top initiator.”

As for a breakout possibility, sophomore Will Rock is an option to step into Connors’ role at long pole.

“He had a decent year, but Will Rock has changed his game more than most young men I’ve coached in one year,” Tiffany said. “He had some wild habits coming to us, but he’s been willing to accept coaching and changed his game.”

In truth, the entire defense is Virginia’s X-factor. An offense with proven options in attackmen Michael Kraus and Ian Laviano and a stout midfield will always get the most attention. But the Cavaliers can dream of a deep run in May only if their defense makes progress. 

The Case For Virginia

The Cavaliers bring back five of their six players who reached double figures in goals last season, and their midfield might have as much potential as any in the sport. Dox Aitken, Ryan Conrad and Matt Moore make up a formidable trio. “Those are three midfielders who are so dang competitive and we are really fortunate to have them,” Tiffany said. “I will admit, I don’t know if we can play them all on the same line, though I could see us using a superline at times.” If Virginia attempts to balance its midfields, Mikey Herring (12 G, 18 A) figures to benefit after enjoying a breakout junior year

The Case Against Virginia

Will the defense be good enough? In addition to the questions explored above, Tiffany acknowledges goalie is an even greater pressure point for the Cavaliers than many teams given their schematic preferences. Can they get more consistent play out of the position? Alex Rode started a dozen games as a freshman and posted a .493 save percentage, and Tiffany describes him as a “man on a mission” who has matured in many ways. Junior Griffin Thompson has started 13 games in his career as well.

Path to the Playoffs

The Cavaliers begin this season the same way they ended last year --- with a trip to Loyola, a team that will instantly test a defense that needs to be better over the course of this season. Virginia also visits Princeton (Feb. 23) and Johns Hopkins (March 23), plays host to Lehigh and Richmond and gets at least five games against ACC opponents. Strength of schedule won’t be a problem, and having broken through and defeated some conference foes last year (North Carolina and Syracuse) means there's success to build upon in league play.

Players To Watch

Dox Aitken, M, Jr.
39 G, 12 A

Aitken is already 14^th on Virginia’s career scoring list for midfielders with 68 goals. If he matches last year’s total — hardly a reach — he’ll become the first Virginia midfielder to collect 100 goals and still have another season to go.

Ryan Conrad, M, Sr.
4 G, 23 GB (5 games)

The big question will be rust as Conrad returns from a knee injury that cost him the bulk of last season. At his best, he is a factor all over the field — on defense, on faceoff wings, on offense — who will be a difference-maker for the Cavaliers.

Michael Kraus, A, Jr.
44 G, 39 A

As much as Tiffany’s scheme relies heavily on two-way middies, Kraus is still the guy who makes the offense go. Expect more of the same in 2019. “It’s hard to provide enough accolades because he’s earned them all,” Tiffany said.

National Rankings

Power Ratings (Scale of 1-5)

Offense
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Defense
⭐⭐

Goalkeeping
⭐⭐⭐

Faceoff
⭐⭐⭐⭐

14

Since Virginia last reached Memorial Day weekend in 2011, 14 other schools have done so — including every one of the other 10 programs to win a national championship besides Princeton.

5-Year Trend
Scoring Defense

Coach Confidential
Lars Tiffany

“Having two years of experience with the majority of the team and an influx of talent that the first-year class brings in has certainly given us a mindset that this is a big year for us to take a big step forward. There’s a different focus this year that I’ve witnessed from the men. I’m hearing things I haven’t heard before when it comes to commitment and decision-making.”

Enemy Lines

“They like chaos, but I think they’re probably learning that too much of it doesn’t work for you. You’ve got to be able to play at a different tempo at times. I think they will.”

"They’re great. Great recruiting class. Fabulous athletes. Great coach. Wow."