PHILADELPHIA — Alex Rode didn’t smile or say much after backstopping Virginia to a 13-9 victory over Yale in the NCAA championship game Monday on Lincoln on Financial Field. He sat back, stroked his mustache a few times and deferred to his teammates.
It was fitting. For much of the afternoon, Rode was like the mustachioed villain in a silent film, tying Yale’s title hopes to the train tracks.
“Yale’s a very good offense,” Rode said. “I thought the whole defense just played amazing. I’m just very fortunate to be able to play with that group of guys.”
Yale is indeed a very good offense. Despite Rode’s heroics, the Bulldogs still managed to set a new NCAA tournament record with 68 goals. The final was the first time the defending NCAA champions had been held to single digits all year. One game after scoring 10 goals in the first quarter, the Bulldogs trailed 6-2 at halftime.
Virginia coach Lars Tiffany, as one would expect, had more to say about his goalie, who was named the tournament’s most outstanding player.
“Fantastic, fantastic performance by Alex Rode,” Tiffany said. “Early on, Yale found some openings. Our defense was still getting settled in, trying to figure out who Yale is. With one day to prepare for a team and not a lot of film to watch, it's a difficult scout for both teams. Alex made big saves early, when we made mistakes when there were openings. That allowed our defense to grow more comfortable.”
Rode finished with 13 saves. It was the eighth time this season that he made at least 10 stops. Between the semifinals and finals, the St. Paul’s (Md.) alum, made 31 combined saves and had a .608 save percentage.
For a brief moment, it looked like everything might go according to plan for Yale. TD Ierlan won the opening faceoff. Then a shot by Jack Tigh sailed wide. Yale maintained possession. Matt Brandau ripped a shot. Rode turned it away. Brandau ripped another. Another save by Rode. A few seconds later, Tigh ripped a man-up goal and Yale took a 1-0 lead.
Virginia put the game away with a 4-1 second quarter, in which Rode made five saves. Thanks to Rode and the rest of UVA’s defense, it would not matter how many faceoffs Ierlan wrangled in.
“It's tough for sure, but you can't really think of the last play,” Yale’s John Daniggelis said. “You've got to keep moving forward and try to attack the next one with a clear mind and give it everything you've got. Virginia's defense and their goalie played well today and unfortunately, it wasn't our day.”
While Rode started 16 games this season, he’s actually part of a fearsome foursome of goalies on Virginia’s roster. Rode was on the sidelines when the game ended, with Patrick Burkinshaw between the pipes. Rode, Burkinshaw, Griffin Thompson and William Hudson have all played minutes for the Cavaliers this season.
When asked about his fellow goaltenders, Rode allowed himself to finally smile.
“Griff Thompson, Will Hudson and Patrick Burkinshaw are three of my best friends on the team,” Rode said. “It's a community, and it’s just amazing to get to hang out with them every day.”
While Rode faced the media, the other goalies were with the rest of the team, loudly celebrating and singing along to Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll Part II” in Virginia’s locker room next door. When the song finished, Little Nas X’s “Old Town Road” came on.
It was also fitting. After all, the song of the Memorial Day Weekend was “Old Town Rode.”