Virginia's latest nicked up player is goalie Bud Petit.

He certainly isn't the only one for No. 3 Virginia (10-2) as it prepares to meet Dartmouth (5-6) tomorrow at Klockner Stadium.

Coach Dom Starsia said Petit practiced yesterday for the first time this week after suffering a hip injury in the first half of Saturday's 19-9 loss to Duke (a game, if you remember, the Cavaliers tied at 9-9 in the middle of the third quarter). Petit will get the nod for the third straight week over freshman Adam Ghitelman.

It was sophomore Mark Wade, not Ghitelman, who finished up the game in cage for Virginia.

"We sort of preordained if we had to make a change, that we were going to give Mark a shot in there," Starsia said. "We thought the upperclassman might come off the bench better. It gave Adam a chance to catch his breath. To be honest, if it happens again, you may well see Adam out there."

So Petit will play. And so will Ben Rubeor, he of the 22 goals, nine assists and persistent knee injury. As will Peter Lamade, a midfielder who has his own hip issues. And Brian Carroll, who has 22 goals from the midfield to go along with a broken hand. Not to mention Danny Glading, who is enjoying a solid season (18 goals, 28 assists) despite a hamstring injury.

Glading's situation is particularly interesting, and you'd have to think Virginia would love to be playing someone less capable of giving them trouble than Dartmouth. If Glading could just rest for even a week, chances are he'd be in better shape when next month's NCAA tournament starts.

"We're caught in that little dilemma," Starsia said. "He hurts his hamstring, he can't really practice but he's able to play not quite at the level he's accustomed. He's not as explosive and he can't get better at practice. Overall, he's not quite where he'd like to be. We just have to fight through it and he does, too. I'm not bemoaning it. We got some bumps and bruises."

That's still better than a crushing injury to a vital contributor. And since Virginia is dealing with relative annoyances rather than a huge blow, it still has to be considered a serious final four contender even after dropping two of three.

--- Patrick Stevens