Virginia Goaltender Matt Barrett Suspended For 2017 Season

Virginia Cavaliers senior goaltender Matt Barrett has been suspended for the entire 2017 season, according to an announcement made by head coach Lars Tiffany. According to the school’s website, the reason for the suspension was because of a "violation of athletics department policy."

Barrett was arrested and charged in August for drug possession in Ocean City, Maryland. Here’s the report from the Ocean City Today’s police blotter.

In responding to a noise complaint, police noticed Barrett was cutting white powder using a credit card on the kitchen table.

After entering the unit and asking Barrett about the white powder, police reported he first claimed it was adderall before admitting it was cocaine.

A few days after the initial arrest, a UVA spokesperson confirmed that Barrett was suspended indefinitely. A trial has been set for this month, although no word on the exact date.

Last season, Barrett started in all 15 games, going 7-8 with a 47.6 save percentage and a goals against average of 10.76. He was a USILA second-team All-American as well as an all-ACC honoree in 2015. He was an Under Armour All-American out of Malvern Prep back in 2013.

There is no word on whether or not he will return to Charlottesville for the 2018 season or even play college lacrosse again.

With Barrett out of the picture, the Cavaliers will need to fill a huge void in the net. Virginia has four goaltenders, which includes senior Ryan Montgomery, junior Will Railey, sophomore Carter Malkus, and freshman Griffin Thompson.

Railey seems to be the favorite as of now for the starting job, as he has the most experience out of anyone. He appeared in eight games and played around 54 minutes total, giving up four goals and making eight saves on 26 shots for a save percentage of 66.7%.

Montgomery joined the team last year as a walk-on after playing on UVA’s club team for the first two seasons. He appeared in two games and made one save on the only shot he faced.

Malkus spent last season on UVA’s club team, and was probably one of Tiffany’s four walk-ons added.

Thompson comes from The Lawrenceville School, but has an injury history, as he required hip surgery in his junior year before bouncing back for a great senior season.