Wahoo Wire

Photo courtesy of ncaa.com

Following up on a championship-winning performance is the main challenge that the Virginia Men’s Soccer team will face this season after last year’s stellar performance. A No. 2 ranking in the Preseason National Coaches of Association of America poll should raise confidence that the team can repeat last year’s ACC and NCAA Championship achievements.

Last year, the team finished the season with an overall record of 19-3-3, defeating NC State 1-0 to win its tenth ACC Championship. The team then beat Akron in a hard-fought game on penalties to claim its sixth NCAA Championship. Head Coach George Gelnovatch was named National Coach of the Year.

The loss of key starters, particularly in the midfield, who were pivotal last season will be the major concern that the Cavaliers will have to address.  With Tony Tchani selected second overall in the MLS draft by the New York Red Bulls and team captain Ross Labauex now with the Colorado Rapids, two key starting midfield positions need to be filled.

Regulars from last year who will also be missing are Jordan Evans, Neil Barlow, Chase Neinken and Jonathan Villanueva, all of whom were seniors.  Except for Forward Neinken, all of the players who have left are midfielders.

This loss of players has had its impact on the expectations of how the team will perform. The recent ACC poll, determined by ACC head coach’s votes, predicted Virginia finishing third in the ACC, behind Maryland and North Carolina in second and first respectively.

However, what remains of last season’s team, is still promising. Record-breaking goalkeeper Diego Restrepo was named in the 2009 first team All-America and made the College Soccer News 2010 preseason All- America First Team. His 16 shutouts (11 consecutive) were a school record, earning him the ACC Tournament MVP.

Supporting Restrepo will be the same stingy defense that managed 17 shutouts, allowing only 8 goals throughout the season. The center pairing of Greg Monaco and Mike Volk will look to anchor the Cavalier defense as well as they did last season.

Freshman forward Will Bates was last year’s freshman of the year. Bates finished the season as the team’s top scorer with 12 goals. Along with defender Greg Monaco, Bates was recently named on the Hermann Trophy Watch List (as well as the preseason All- America First Team with Restrepo).

Virginia came out of the preseason last night with a perfect record, defeating George Mason 2-1, VMI 4-0 and  VCU 1-0. Bates has already gotten off to a good start, notching two goals in the three games. Last year’s talismanic walk-on Ari Dimas has also already scored two.

The season kicks off with a game against the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The Blazers have also finished preseason undefeated. The game will be in Charlottesville at Klockner Stadium at 8pm Friday 3^rd September.