Wahoo Wire

At the beginning of the football season, the statement I’m about to make would have been considered opinion. Now it’s a fact…. Our football team stinks. I’m talking skunk fart stink. So rather than delve into that negative abyss, I decided to talk about the other football. You know…The sport we’re actually good at this year (and are always good at).

We’ll fill you in on the success of the Virginia men’s soccer team (5-2 before today’s match) in much more detail as the weeks roll on, but for starters, consider the following:

• Virgina defeated no.2 Wake Forest…AT WAKE FOREST! Wake has only been the most successful soccer program of the last ten years. NBD right?
• Virginia traveled across country to play the University of Washington (UDUB for us left coasters) and beat them.
• Virginia is now ranked 11th overall in the country

Despite these impressive bullet points, perhaps the most impressive accomplishment is that Virginia is playing without standout second-year forward Brian Ownby. Why would they do that you might ask? Well, it turns out Mr. Ownby got drafted…

Don’t worry my fellow young adults. Not that kind of draft. Ownby was selected to the USA U-20 World Cup roster for the FIFA u-20 world cup currently underway in Egypt. While the tournament is not as big in stature as the actual World Cup, Euros, or even the Confederations Cup which some of you might remember the US of A doing pretty well in this summer, it is the biggest tournament in determining the future of soccer’s youth. The U-20 World Cup is the premier event for young players hoping to earn looks from the best clubs in the World. Standout Americans Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, and Freddy Adu splashed onto the world soccer radar at the last tournament in Canada where the Americans shocked Brazil 2-1. Other players that found their big break at this tournament include Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, and Wayne Rooney to name a few.

So yeah…it’s a big deal, which makes what I’m about to tell you a source of great pride for all Wahoos. Although the US squad lost to U-21 Euro champs Germany 3-0 in the opening match, the Americans rallied back today with a vengeance, trouncing an extremely talented Cameroon squad 4-1. The national team faithful will all recognize the names of the three players that scored the first three goals, Tony Taylor, Dilly Duka, and Brian Arguez, but the fourth name is a new arrival. Yes folks, UVA’s own Brian Ownby scored a goal on the national stage.

With the victory, the US is now in second place in the group, in great position to advance to the knockout rounds. While most American soccer supporters hope the US squad goes the distance, I bet the Virginia soccer team is praying for an early exit so UVA’s resident patriot can return home to Charlottesville and wreak havoc on ACC competition.

Wahoo Wire will not take a stance except to wish Brian luck in Egypt. Readers, go watch the UVA soccer team in action and see what winners look like. To see Brian’s goal, check out the highlights below.