(Thumbnail Image: CBS/UVA Media Relations)


"Yeardley Love was just 22 years old. Beautiful, smart, and a star lacrosse player.  The police say was murdered by her former boyfriend, George Huguely.  A dashing midfielder on the nation's No. 1 ranked men's lacrosse team." (NBC)

The death of a woman's lacrosse player allegedly at the hands of her ex-boyfriend and current men's lacrosse player has sent shock waves across the nation.

We're looking at reaction from ESPN, Vernon Croy Sports, NBC29, inboundswithmac.com and MSNBC.

First to ESPN's Bob Holtzman, who has details on what reporters considered a shocker after Huguely appeared in court.

"What happened just after the bond hearing took place is what has everyone talking here in Charlottesville.  Because Huguely's attorney, Fran Lawrence, came outside, made a very brief statement. A written statement that he handed to reporters, and in that statement he said, 'We are confident that Miss Love's death was not intended, but an accident.'  Basically saying that his client...that it, that it appears that his client did this.  Just that he did not intend to kill Yeardley Love."

Vernon Croy Sports reports this is a double tragedy.  The murder being one the other being the fact both Virginia's men's and women's lacrosse teams were national title contenders.  The two teams were scheduled to begin play for the national championship in just nine days.

"Now the highlight is the UVA Lacrosse death. Now neither of them will be on the field for UVA. Well, one of them won’t because she lost her life, the other one shouldn’t, because he is being charged with taking it."

Central Virginia's NBC29 says because of that, this is not just a story of personal tragedy.  It is a sports' tragedy.

"There is no game plan for something like this. The No. 1 ranked UVA men and No. 4 ranked UVA women played their regular season finales over the weekend, and will not play again until the NCAA Tournament."

On inboundswithmac.com, sportscaster Mac McDonald says, this goes way beyond sports.  And shows, athletes are just students.

"They drink, they party, they hook-up, they date, they hang out, and they have real emotions. Sunday night, alcohol and/or drugs played a part in a real life drama. It involved a past relationship. Many close to the story knew some things were up but no one could forecast the outcome."