2026 College Lacrosse Season Preview: Virginia

For the first time since Lars Tiffany’s first season at the helm in 2017, the Cavaliers failed to make the NCAA Tournament. Winning just six games in 2025, there are no doubt warning signs that perhaps Virginia is not what they used to be; an offense that averaged just 11 goals a game in 2025 (their lowest since 2016), the transfer of a former Top 10 recruit to an ACC foe before even stepping foot on Klöckner, losing the services of multiple 5-star recruits in the 2026 class, and a 2027 recruiting class that is nowhere as strong as previous classes on paper.

Despite red flags for Wahoos in the future, there is reason for optimism that Virginia will return to the NCAA Tournament in 2026.

Why the cavaliers will bounce back in 2026

In a lot of ways, McCabe Millon was set up for failure in 2025. After a strong year as a freshman in 2024, Millon was coined the next Wahoo Wunderkind at attack in the wake of Connor Shellenberger’s graduation.

The problem? Not only is Shellenberger a once-in-a-lifetime player whose accomplishments made it virtually impossible for Millon to live up to, but Shellenberger also had exceptional talent surrounding him.

That wasn’t the case for Millon in 2025. He had two new starters at attack (Truitt Sunderland & Ryan Colsey), just one returning midfielder that saw significant minutes the year prior (Griffin Schutz) and the redshirt of three freshman Top 20 recruits.

But in 2026? The Cavaliers have an influx of uber-talent (yet inexperienced) offensive players to elevate Millon. The most notable? His brother Brendan.

uva's newest #1 recruit

Brendan Millon is different than former #1 recruits that have landed in Charlottesville.

With a top recruit, you’d expect them to be the focal point of the offense. But Brendan’s biggest superpower is that he doesn’t need to be.

Sure, he can certainly create his own shot off the dodge, which he did a ton of at McDonogh after the graduation of McCabe. Brendan is particularly effective attacking from the high-wing, where his extreme two-handedness makes it a nightmare for defenders to figure out where he’s going. But off-ball? He’s got a snappy release with both hands and a knack for finding open space and cashing in from mid-range and inside.

His insertion into the offense makes me very hopeful for this UVA team, as I expect him to be a plug-and-play 30+ goal attacker alongside McCabe, whose assist numbers should skyrocket with his brother back at his side.

Biggest Question Marks

where will the midfield production come from?

Midfield production was my biggest concern heading into last season with the Cavaliers and it ultimately played a major role in their downfall. But this season? Sophomores Ryan Duenkel and Sean Browne, two of the talented recruits who redshirted last season, will look to revamp a new look midfield while the upside of Owen Crann, a high-energy freshman, is intriguing as an option that could contribute immediately. Again, I feel like a broken record, but if Virginia can find some key contributors that can score from their midfield unit, they could be a dangerous offense. If they don’t? We could see a sluggish offense that resembles last season.

how will uva mix and match defensively?

The Wahoos have a bonafide shutdown cover man in the 6-foot-5 John Schroter, but lose two starters to graduation in Griffin Kology and George Fulton. It’s not to say they can’t still have a good unit, and dare I say even better than 2025? Virginia double dipped for defenders in the portal with Jacksonville transfer Michael Meredith and Colgate graduate student Aidan Murnane. Sophomore Tommy Snyder figures to have a big role in this defense after playing in 14 games as a freshman, but perhaps the biggest piece to the puzzle is top LSM recruit Robby Hopper. Similarly to the Millon(s) at attack, Hopper is next in line to be that offensive-minded pole that has been a staple of Virginia teams in the past for a 2026 team that could bolster their production in transition.

who starts in net?

Yeah yeah, I know it’s a question that many teams have to answer before February, but it’s one that has nagged the Cavaliers for a few years now. Senior returner Kyle Morris struggled in early season losses to Richmond, Ohio State and Johns Hopkins last season. Jake Marek, a graduate student from Air Force, feels like he would be next up to start over Morris after a strong senior campaign with the Falcons including an NCAA Tournament berth, but I’m intrigued to see freshman Patrick Biese as well.

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