Connor Shellenberger Reminds Everybody Why He's The Best Lacrosse Player In The Country, Sends Virginia Back To The Final Four Where They Belong
Connor Shellenberger showed up to Virginia as the #1 recruit in the country in 2020. He planned to red shirt his freshman season anyway, but we all remember what happened in the spring of 2020. In 2021, he led Virginia to another National Championship as a redshirt freshman and was named the most outstanding player of the tournament. In 2022, he was a finalist for the Tewaaraton award. In 2023, he was a finalist for the Tewaaraton award and brought Virginia back to the final four. They lost to Notre Dame in the semifinals.
Connor Shellenberger is a senior now. For the 3rd straight year, he is a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award. It's the only thing he's missing in his college career so far. And with this goal today, he may have just had his Tewaaraton moment by sending Virginia back to the Final Four for the 4th time in the last 5 seasons.
Double overtime. Senior season. It could have either been the last time he ever put on a Virginia uniform, or he could send the boys on another trip to Philadelphia for Memorial Day Weekend. He's played in bigger games in his career, but he may not have ever had a bigger moment.
Big time players make big time plays in big time moments. Virginia called a timeout and the play they drew up was to just give the ball to #1 and let him do what he does best. Honestly, it was the perfect play. You don't need any crazy mumbo picks. You don't need to spin the ball around once or twice. You just need your best player to be the most unstoppable player on the field. When you have Connor Shellenberger on your roster, it's automatic. A legendary play from a legendary player, that'll only continue to have his legend grow if Virginia can stack together two more wins next weekend.
We'll have a new episode of The Crease Dive up later tonight recapping the whole quarterfinals. But we came so close to having an identical Final Four this year as the one in Philly back in 2015 with Notre Dame vs Denver and Maryland vs Hopkins. But Virginia was able to dial up the 10-man ride, get Hopkins to turn the ball over relentlessly the whole 4th quarter, and got their only lead of the game with the 2OT game winner. Dynasty ain't over yet.