Jason Moore Opts for Major League Soccer

Story Links

December 16, 1998

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Sophomore midfielder Jason Moore (Lawrenceville, Ga. / Parkview) announced his intentions to leave the University of Virginia for Major League Soccer’s draft here Wednesday.

“Again we’re losing one of the best young talents in the country,” UVa head coach George Gelnovatch said. “Jason has a great opportunity to become a really great player on the professional level. I think we provided him with an environment in which he could grow as a person and as a student athlete.

“Now it’s time for him to take the next step into the world of professional soccer. We’ll miss him, but we’ll continue to bring in great soccer players.”

Moore finished second on the team this season with seven assists and culminated his career with 16 assists. Known for his ability to control the ball in the midfield and run the offense, Moore had three game-winning assists this fall and seven game-winners in his two years in a Cavalier uniform.

“I feel this is in my best interests,” Moore said. “This is a chance I don’t want to pass up. It’s always been a dream of mine to play professionally.”

Moore will join 18 other former Cavaliers in the MLS. Last season, three UVa players were selected by MLS teams.

“It was a short stay here, but I can’t complain,” Moore said of his career in a Wahoo uniform. “We played in the championship game last year and came close this season. I came to Virginia to get better as a player and to have a chance at a national title, and both of those things were accomplished.

“Everything from the coaching staff to the facilities at Virginia is simply the best in the nation,” Moore added. “Playing college soccer at UVa is about as close as you can come to playing for a professional club team in Europe. We didn’t win a championship, but I had a great time playing there.”