Off a quick restart at X, Noah Chizmar finds Will Cory on the crease for an easy catch and finish, putting the Cavaliers up 14-7 in the season-opener. The two celebrate behind the cage on a field Cory is quite familiar with, arguably more as a fan than a player.

The Virginia men’s lacrosse team lost 18 players from last season, many of whom were two-time National Champions. That left room for new guys to step up in leadership roles. As a fifth-year player, Cory brings a veteran presence to a team he grew up cheering for.

“Will has returned for a fifth season with an undeniable vitality that uplifts the rest of us, sparking more energy everywhere our team gathers and trains,” Virginia coach Lars Tiffany said in his VirginiaSports.com bio. “His verve was no more clearly on display than in our fall scrimmage up in Centreville. Will won the demolition derby as he smashed into opposing players and hunted the ball like it was the last one on the planet. Such honest intensity from a veteran athlete is an inspiration. What Will is also positively role modeling is his shooting technique: by the book overhand and accurate.”

To receive such high praise from the head of the UVA program must be a bit of a pinch-me moment.

...