Virginia finishes unbeaten with NCAA lacrosse title

PHILADELPHIA -- For more than two months, college lacrosse has dominated the headlines -- but not because of what has happened on the field.

With the rape allegations against three members of the Duke men's lacrosse team casting a long shadow, Virginia coach Dom Starsia hopes his Cavaliers have emerged as a positive story for a sport badly in need of one with their dominating victory over Massachusetts in the NCAA men's championship Monday.

Virginia completed an undefeated season with its fourth NCAA title, beating unseeded UMass 15-7 behind five goals each from Matt Poskay and Matt Ward.

"We are not angels in any regard," Virginia coach Dom Starsia said. "And we're not preaching to anybody, but I'd like to think we do it the right way. We get nice kids and they stumble along the way as they grow up, but in general we have respectful kids, considerate young men."

"I think you can hold this group up as a little bit of an ideal and say here's what the sport is capable of."

Matt Ward (left) and Matt Poskay celebrate Virginia's victory. (AP)

In late March, Duke officials suspended the school's highly ranked team amid allegations that a woman hired as a stripper was raped at a party hosted by team members. Three team members have been charged.

Virginia (17-0) proved to be very capable this season, becoming the second consecutive undefeated champion and the 13th to post a perfect season. Johns Hopkins went 16-0 last year.

"The whole undefeated thing snuck up on us, but to come in here as expected and do this is a very special moment for our program," Starsia said. "I'm very proud of our guys."

Before a record crowd of 47,062, Massachusetts (13-5) made a game of it for the first half but ultimately could not contain the top-seeded Cavaliers. Virginia spent much of the first half watching its shots sail high and wide.

"I think we were uncharacteristically tight late in the second quarter," Starsia said. "It was just a question of tightening things down a little bit."

But with the Cavaliers holding a 7-6 lead, UMass defenseman Jack Reid was called for a costly slashing penalty on a faceoff. Poskay capitalized on the man advantage with his third goal of the day. That proved to be a turning point as Virginia reeled off five more goals to take control.

"I'm sure it hurt us," Reid said. "If I could take it back, I would."

UMass rallied from a 4-1 deficit to tie the game early in the third quarter, but the Minutemen just couldn't keep pace with Virginia's overwhelming offensive attack.