OkillSportsSPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2011 23No ordinary champioGarett Ince and his Virginia teammatesovercame plenty to win NCAA lacrosse titleBy Herb Garbuttthe team so deeply that some players still OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFwear Barrows initials on game day.I think about him on a day-to-day ast season, the University of basis, Ince said.Virginia entered the NCAA lacrosseThe Cavaliers persevered to become Ltournament as the top-rankedcontenders for the national title in 2010. team in the country. The Cavaliers seemedOn May 1 they beat Robert Morris to poised to win the national championshipimprove to 14-1. Two days later, the cam-even as their season became a soap opera,pus was shocked by the murder of Yeardley the subject of national head-Love, a popular player on the You realizelines that had nothing to dowomens lacrosse team. The with their performance on thewnext day, police arrested inning isn't thefield.Cavaliers lacrosse player most important Virginia built an 8-5 lead inGeorge Huguely.thing... We went the national semifinal againstAs if the team wasnt deal-through a reallyDuke and, even after surren-ing with enough, coach Dom tough time anddering seven straight goals,Starsias father died that same clawed its way back to tie theyou realize howweek. game 13-13. It seemed like aIn the weeks following, important astorybook ending was beingVirginia won two tournament team is, havingauthored until Duke spoiledgames before falling to Duke someone to lean the fairy tale, scoring with 12in the semis.on. It puts things seconds left as it went on toIts something, looking claim the national title.back, you wish it didnt hap-in perspective.For a college athlete, wherepen, Ince said, but you real- Garett Incethe opportunity to win aize winning isnt the most championship has a limitedimportant thing. Its being a window, such a loss could be devastating.well-rounded person on and off the field. Games are often described as life andWe went through a really tough time and death.you realize how important a team is, hav-Oakvilles Garett Ince and his Virginiaing someone to lean on. It puts things in teammates had experienced enough of theperspective.latter to know that there was more to lifeTeam struggledthan wins and losses. After Inces freshmanseason in 2008, former Virginia captainWinning may not have been the most PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICEWill Barrow, who was still attending schoolimportant thing, but Virginia didnt forget NCAA CHAMPION: Garett Ince (in white) helped the University of Virginia Cavaliers win the NCAA to finish his degree after four years withhow to do it in the off-season. It started the men's lacrosse championship recently, concluding an up-and-down university career for the local resident.the team, committed suicide. It affectedSee Virginia, page 25