No. 2 Johns Hopkins at No. 1 Virginia: 10 Things to Watch
You can't ask for a better matchup than No. 1 vs. No. 2, and that's what we'll get Saturday when top-ranked Virginia (8-0) hosts Johns Hopkins (7-0); the two have been running neck and neck atop the polls for the past month.
Besides top billing in the nation, there's a lot to prove for both teams. The Cavaliers have had several close calls this season, including a 9-8 squeaker at Drexel in the season opener and an overtime escape against Rob Pannell-less Cornell in the Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic here in Baltimore.
The Blue Jays, on the other hand, have been red-hot all month since a fourth-quarter surge lifted them to victory at Princeton. But they're 1-6 against Virginia since 2006.
Who will emerge as the clear-cut No. 1 Saturday afternoon comes down to 10 factors:
— By Quint Kessenich, Special to The Baltimore Sun
Besides top billing in the nation, there's a lot to prove for both teams. The Cavaliers have had several close calls this season, including a 9-8 squeaker at Drexel in the season opener and an overtime escape against Rob Pannell-less Cornell in the Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic here in Baltimore.
The Blue Jays, on the other hand, have been red-hot all month since a fourth-quarter surge lifted them to victory at Princeton. But they're 1-6 against Virginia since 2006.
Who will emerge as the clear-cut No. 1 Saturday afternoon comes down to 10 factors:
— By Quint Kessenich, Special to The Baltimore Sun
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Virginia attackman Nick O'Reilly (left) and midfielder Mikey Thompson (right), Johns Hopkins defenseman Matt Drenan
1. Home-field advantage: Hopkins hasn't won in Charlottesville since a 13-10 victory in 1998. The Cavaliers' seniors are 27-1 at Klockner Stadium. Their defense plays more aggressively at home. They thrive on the atmosphere, walking from their locker room up the hill through the fans. Klockner is ideal in size. The pep band is superb. The playing surface is fast grass. Outside the Atlantic Coast Conference, few schools play on grass.
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