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Aug. 31, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The #14/#19 ranked University of Virginia men’s soccer team dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the #11/#13 Saint Louis Billikens in the final match of the 2003 Virginia Soccer Classic in front of 1,370 spectators at UVa’s Kl?ckner Stadium. The Cavaliers dug themselves out of a 2-0 halftime deficit and bounced back to tie the score at 2-2 following two second half goals. However, despite playing a man down for nearly the entire second half and all of overtime, the Billikens converted one of their few scoring opportunities and netted the game-winning goal to put the finishing touches on the 2003 Virginia Soccer Classic title. Saint Louis finished first with a 2-0-0, Akron placed second with a 1-1-0 record, Seton Hall took third with a 1-1-0 record and UVa took fourth finishing 0-2-0.
The Billikens wasted little time scoring their first goal and took an early 1-0 lead when Vedad Ibisevic gathered a loose ball and streaked upfield before tucking away a one-timer in the far corner of the UVa goal just 6:23 into the match. SLU added another goal at 35:57 to extend its lead to 2-0 when John DiRaimondo scored on a free kick following a Virginia foul. Saint Louis would take its two-goal lead into the locker room at halftime.
In the second half, the Billikens were forced to play a man down when Alex Matteson picked up a red card just 2:23 into the second period (47:23), and UVa capitalized on the opportunity. Virginia scored two second period goals to tie the game at 2-2. The Cavaliers made it a 2-1 contest at the 70:05 mark when Ian Holder’s deflected shot landed right in front of teammate Matt Oliver. Oliver tapped in the chip shot from four yards out and cut the Billikens’ lead to one. UVa eventually tied the game at 2-2 just over ten minutes later when Chris Megaloudis was awarded a penalty kick after a SLU player was whistled for a hand-ball in the box. Megaloudis calmly converted the penalty kick at the 80:31 mark and made it a new ballgame. His goal would eventually force overtime.
In the first overtime period and still playing a man down, Saint Louis’ David Peplinski scored the game-winning at the 96:33 mark and sealed the win for the Billikens. SLU’s Vedad Ibisevic set up the game-winning score when he gained possession of the ball for Saint Louis and raced upfield and sent a cross to Peplinski who was trailing on the play. Peplinski gathered the pass and fired a one-timer into the back of the UVa goal for the game-winning score.
Saint Louis was outshot by Virginia 33-6 as UVa took shot after shot while SLU played a man down. The Billikens scored on exactly half of their shots after netting three goals on just six shots.
SLU goalkeeper Martin Hutton made a game-high 12 saves after stopping just over one-third of the Cavaliers’ shot attempts. UVa goalkeeper Ryan Best made two saves in his second ever start as a Cavalier.
With the loss, Virginia’s record falls to 0-2-0 overall. The victory improves Saint Louis’ record to 2-0-0 on the season. UVa is now 3-1-2 all-time against SLU in men’s soccer.
Two Cavaliers, Matt Oliver and John Hartman, were named to the 2003 Virginia Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team from Virginia. Saint Louis placed four players on the squad: Martin Hutton, Kevin Wickart, John DiRaimondo and Brian Grazier. Hutton was tabbed as the tournament’s MVP. Below is a full recap of the 2003 Virginia Soccer Classic.
The Cavaliers will return to action on September 5th and 7th when UVa travels to College Park, Md. to compete in the 2003 Maryland/FILA Classic. Virginia is scheduled to face the American Eagles on Friday, September 5th at 4:00 PM before meeting the defending 2002 national champion UCLA Bruins on Sunday, September 7th at noon. Both matches are scheduled to be played at Ludwig Field on the campus of the University of Maryland.
Scoring 1 2 OT FSaint Louis (2-0-0) 2 0 1 3Virginia (0-2-0) 0 2 0 2
Goals: Saint Louis 3 - Vedad Ibisevic @ 6:23 (unassisted),John DiRaimondo @ 35:57 (unassisted),David Peplinski @ 96:33 (Vedad Ibisevic).Virginia 2 - Matt Oliver @ 70:05 (Ian Holder), Chris Megaloudis (penalty kick).Shots: Virginia - 33, Saint Louis 6.Corner Kicks: Virginia - 16, Saint Louis 0.Saves: Saint Louis 12, Virginia - 2.Fouls: Saint Louis 24, Virginia - 11.Offsides: Saint Louis 3, Virginia - 1.Cautions: Saint Louis 4 - Alex Matteson (yellow + red), Vedad Ibisevic (yellow),Kevin Wickart (yellow). Virginia 1 - Phillip Long (yellow).Attendance: 1,370.Notes: Final game of the 2003 Virginia Soccer Classic.="http:>
2003 VIRGINIA SOCCER CLASSIC INFORMATION:
2003 Virginia Soccer Classic Tournament Results
Contest Opponents ScoreGame 1 Saint Louis def. Akron 1-0Game 2 Seton Hall def. Virginia 1-0Game 3 Akron def. Seton Hall 4-2Game 4 Saint Louis def. Virginia 3-2 (OT)
2003 Virginia Soccer Classic Tournament Standings
Place Team Record Points Notes1st Saint Louis 2-0-0 6 Finished undefeated.2nd Akron 1-1-0 4 Earned tie-breaker over Seton Hall.3rd Seton Hall 1-1-0 4 Lost tie-breaker to Akron.4th Virginia 0-2-0 0 Finished winless.
2003 Virginia Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team
Player Team HonorMartin Hutton Saint Louis MVPKevin Wickart Saint LouisJohn DiRaimondo Saint LouisBrian Grazier Saint LouisAlex Odwell AkronMichael Marich AkronCameron Knowles AkronLuke Vercollone Seton HallJason Hernandez Seton HallMatt Oliver VirginiaJohn Hartman Virginia
— UVa —