PHILADELPHIA — During Saturday’s NCAA men’s lacrosse semifinal against Penn State, Yale recorded 21 goals, helping tie an NCAA tournament record for combined goals in a game.

Come Monday’s final against Virginia, that vaunted offense was held under wraps. 

The Bulldogs, the defending national champions, were held to a season-low for goals, made 20 turnovers and seemed to lose most hustle plays, especially in transition.

By game’s end, that played a massive role in a 13-9 win for the Cavaliers, their sixth Division I national title in program history. Yale set a record for goals (68) across a single NCAA tournament, but that was little more than an anecdote at Lincoln Financial Field.

“Those ground balls, those 50-50 ground balls, I feel like we wanted it more today,” said Virginia sophomore attackman Matt Moore, who had a team-high five points. “I feel like that’s the main reason we won that game.” 

The tone was set early, as bodies hit the floor. The biggest highlight came with about two minutes left in the third quarter, when Yale junior attackman Matt Gaudet was cleaned out like a wide receiver on a post route who crossed paths with the free safety. He returned, but didn’t quite look the same after. Dave Smith delivered the hit.

The ground-ball battle was won by Virginia, 48-46, with the vast majority coming in open play. If not for 11 ground balls by Yale faceoff specialist TD Ierlan, a Tewaaraton Award finalist, that could have been even more lopsided.

The open field was dominated by senior midfielder Ryan Conrad and poles Jared Conners and Cade Saustad. They combined for 19 ground balls.

“It felt like they got really key ones that could have helped tilt it our way a little bit,” Yale coach Andy Shay said. “Their poles are phenomenal off the ground, and it’s a huge key to their success.”

Yale entered championship weekend with the nation’s second-highest scoring offense, trailing just Penn State. That didn’t concern Virginia much, which held the Ivy League program to a season low in goals scored (nine). The Bulldogs had previously reached double-digit goals in 21 games straight. 

The only Yale player who really got going was attackman Matt Brandau, who had three goals and two assists to finish his freshman season with 74 points. Aside from a two-goal burst coming out of halftime and another three-goal run late when the Virginia victory seemed secure, not much was clicking for Shay’s group.

“You can just see the heart, the grittiness and the toughness we were playing with today out on that field,” said Virginia junior attackman Michael Kraus. “I feel like we wanted it so bad and every ground ball, whatever it may be, we were able to get it. Second chances, we were picking them up.”

Now, Virginia’s defense didn’t exactly come out of nowhere. In the ACC title game, the unit held Notre Dame to single digits in a 10-4 win and held another NCAA tournament foe, Richmond, to seven. 

But there were moments this season when the defense looked like a weak point, especially during a season-opening 17-9 loss at Loyola Maryland. There was also the 14-13 loss to High Point in the third game of the year. 

Lars Tiffany, now in his third year as coach since joining from Brown, his alma mater, said there’s been tremendous growth this year and since he ventured to Charlottesville. He called it a democratic process whereby coaches and players alike throw ideas, critiques and suggestions around.

“It’s having guys who really care about the schemes and come to the meetings with ideas,” Tiffany said. “We’re coming up with a better plan because it’s a democracy. It’s not just one person. They’re willing to speak truth to power in my position, and it’s made us all better as we’ve learned and grown from each other.”

Now, it wasn’t a perfect defensive showing, as the Bulldogs got through at times. But more often than not when they did, there stood Alex Rode. The sophomore goalie made 13 saves and was quick to credit those in front of him.

“The whole defense just played amazing,” Rode said. “They were flying around, the d-middies, the close defense. I’m very fortunate to be a part of that defense.” 

Not just any defense, though. A national championship-winning defense.