SPORTS WRAP

By KELLY WATT |
Published online 8:00am Thursday May 5th, 2005
and in print issue #0418 dated Thursday May 5th, 2005

The Week in Review:
Worst Timing: The UVA men's lacrosse team (9-3) took a 7-5 lead late into the fourth quarter against the Maryland Terrapins (7-5) in Baltimore Friday night, April 29 in the ACC semifinal. The Terps, who came into the game fighting for their NCAA tournament lives, managed to score two late goals to force overtime. Then the Cavs appeared to seal the victory with an OT goal, but it was waved off because coach Dom Starsia had signaled for a timeout just moments before the potential game-winner.
"We were struggling to get the ball into the box and then threw it to a long pole [defenseman]," Starsia told The Daily Progress. "I hope you could see it from my perspective. I thought it was the right call at the moment." Unfortunately, the decision proved to be fatal as Maryland answered with their own game-winning goal just minutes later to send the Wahoos home early to await their NCAA tournament fate.

Strongest Home Turf: The Chicago Bulls took games one and two in the Windy City, but the Washington Wizards answered the call by winning games three and four also in convincing fashion at the MCI Center. With the Eastern Conference quarterfinals best of seven playoff series knotted at two games apiece, the Wiz must find a way to win on the road.

Steepest Hill to Climb: Just when they seemed to be building momentum for a late season charge, the UVA baseball team (31-15, 10-12) enters their weeklong exam break reeling from yet another conference setback. Following a 9-4 defeat of William & Mary, the Cavs ride a five-game win streak into Tallahassee, only to fall victim to the 13th ranked Florida State Seminoles. FSU (37-14, 12-9) takes two of three weekend games, downing the Hoos 8-1 in Friday's opener, and then 7-2 in the finale of Sunday's doubleheader. Both scores may appear lopsided, but the usually reliable Cavalier pitching staff may have cost the Cavs the series.
"Not to discredit Florida State– they're a good ball club– but in both of the innings where they scored multiple runs this weekend, they were a result of walks and our pitchers not handling the situation," UVA coach Brian O'Connor told the Progress Sunday, May 1.

Worst scoring drought: In the ACC championship game in Baltimore Sunday, May 1, the UVA women's lacrosse team shows some life in scoring three unanswered goals against third-ranked Duke (14-3) to even the halftime score at 4-4. But the Cavalier offense goes dormant in the second half, as the Blue Devils' defense suffocates even all-time leading scorer Amy Appelt while holding the Hoos to just two goals over the final 30 minutes.
"We stopped playing as a team," UVA coach Julie Myers told The Progress after the 9-6 defeat. "Everyone thought the next person was going to score the goal and was willing to get it done. That's great confidence, but you have to get it done as a team."

The Week Ahead:

BALTIMORE ORIOLES HOME STAND
vs. Kansas City (7-18)
Friday, May 6 @ 7:35pm, Saturday May 7 @ 4:35pm, Sunday May 8 @ 1:35pm

vs. Minnesota (15-8)
Monday, May 9, Tuesday, May 10 @ 7:35pm, Wednesday, May 11 @ 3:05pm
Just when the birds had flown from our memories, the Orioles (17-7) shock the baseball world by winning eight straight to take over first place in the AL East. Visit orioles.com for ticket information as these highflyers continue their home stand.

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Series (Game 6)
Wizards vs. Bulls
Friday, May 6 @ 7:30pm
A heated series is down to the best-of-three games. Game is sold out, but scalpers will be doing business around the MCI Center.
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