Story Links
Sept. 5, 1999
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia men’s soccer teamcompeted in the final game of the 1999 Coca-Cola Classic Tournament atKlockner Stadium. The Cavaliers, ranked sixth in the Soccer America andNSCAA polls, were coming off a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over SetonHall on Friday. The win was both UVa’s season and home opener and theCavaliers were looking to collect the Classic Championship with a contestagainst the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Gonzaga entered the game on the heels of a2-1 loss to American on Friday. Virginia took an early 1-0 lead, but gaveup three unanswered goals before eventually falling to the Bulldogs by thescore of 3-2.
Virginia forward Sheldon Barnes (Miramir, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas)put the Cavaliers on the scoreboard first at the 12:08 mark in the firsthalf. Barnes weaved his way past a Gonzaga defender on the endline and putan unassisted goal in the back of the net to give UVa a 1-0 lead. However,Virginia’s lead would not last long as the Bulldogs score a goal of theirown at the 16:23 mark when Jason Kuska drove over half the length of thefield and scored Gonzaga’s first goal of the game to knot the contest at1-1. The two teams went into halftime tied at one apiece.
Gonzaga picked right up where it left off from the first half andscored the go-ahead goal at 51:25 when Kuska fed teammate Mike Thompson fora Bulldog goal to make it a 2-1 Gonzaga lead. The Bulldogs settled into adefensive set to protect their 2-1 lead, but managed to score the eventualgame winning-goal at the 65:35 mark when Alika Cosner gathered a pass fromJoe Marks to make it a 3-1 game. Cosner had just entered the game 46seconds prior to scoring the game winner. Gonzaga took only eight shots inthe contest, but scored three unanswered goals on its last threeconsecutive shots of the game.
The Cavaliers made a solid run to climb back into the game andscored a goal when Ryan Trout (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) found Steve Totten(Allentown, Pa./Peddie) to cut the Gonzaga lead to 3-2. However, the goalcame with only ten seconds left in the contest and the Bulldogs held on fora 3-2 victory, upsetting #6 Virginia.
The loss drops UVa’s record to 1-1-0 on the season, while thevictory improves Gonzaga’s record to 1-1-1 on the year. The defeat wasonly Virginia’s third loss in 30 games in the history of the Coca-ColaClassic. The Cavaliers now hold a 23-3-4 record in the tournament.
All four teams (American, Gonzaga, Seton Hall, Virginia) finishedthe tournament with an identical 1-1 record. However, Seton Hall wascrowned the tournament champion after the tie break determinations wereused. The Pirates won the title after finishing the tournament with a +1goal differential. Gonzaga and Virginia finished even in goal differentialcategory, but the Bulldogs earned second place due to their victoryhead-to-head with the Cavaliers. American finished fourth after finishingwith a -1 goal differential despite claiming the tournament’s first winafter posting a 2-1 victory over Gonzaga.
UVa’s Barnes, Mike Feller (Richmond, Va./Mills Godwin) and Troutwere named to the Coca-Cola Classic All-Tournament team. Seton Hall’sPeter Scavo was named tournament MVP.
Virginia will return to home action when the Cavaliers hostAppalachian State on Wednesday, Sept. 8. The game is scheduled to begin at7:00 p.m. and will be played at Klockner Stadium.
Scoring 1 2 FGonzaga 1 2 3Virginia 1 1 2
Goals: GU 3 – Kuska @ 16:23 (unassisted),Thompson @ 51:25 (Kuska), Cosner @ 65:35 (Marks),UVa 2 – Barnes @ 12:08 (unassisted), Totten @ 89:10 (Trout).Shots: GU 11, UVa 8.Saves: GU: 2, UVa 0.Corner Kicks: UVa 5, GU 3.Fouls: GU 19, UVa 16.Offsides: GU 6, UVa 1.Cautions: UVa 3 – Cole, Feller, Leonard,GU 2 – Blasdel, Fernandez.Attendance: 921
1999 Coca-Cola Classic All-Tournament Team
Name SchoolSheldon Barnes VirginiaBrian Cuddy Seton HallMike Feller VirginiaJason Kuska GonzagaNino Marcantonio AmericanBrian Ruth Seton HallPeter Scavo Seton HallRichard Schapiro AmericanGregory Strohmann Seton HallMike Thompson GonzagaRyan Trout VirginiaMost Valuable Player Peter Scavo, Seton Hall
1999 Coca-Cola Classic Results
Game 1 American def. Gonzaga 2-1Game 2 Virginia def. Seton Hall 4-3 (ot)Game 3 Seton Hall def. American 3-1Game 4 Gonzaga def. Virginia 3-2
1999 Coca-Cola Classic Standings
1. Seton Hall 1-12. Gonzaga 1-13. Virginia 1-14. American 1-1