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Oct. 14, 2004
VIRGINIA’S RECORD & RANKINGS: Virginia (10-2-0, 2-1-0 ACC) is ranked #15 by Soccer America, #5 by NSCAA/adidas, #12 by Soccer Times and #6 by College Soccer News in the Top-25 polls. UVa began the 2004 season ranked #8 in College Soccer News’ Preseason Top-30 poll, #11 in Soccer America’s Preseason Top-25 poll, #13 in the Soccer Times Preseason Top-25 poll and #20 in the NSCAA/adidas Preseason Top-25 poll.
`HOOS UP NEXT?: The Virginia Cavaliers (10-2-0, 2-1-0 ACC) will face the Clemson Tigers (6-4-0, 2-1-0 ACC) in an Atlantic Coast Conference match on Sunday, October 17th in Clemson, S.C. at 2:00 PM at the Tigers’ Historic Riggs Field.
THE SERIES WITH CLEMSON: Virginia leads the all-time series in men’s soccer with Clemson 20-18-5. The Cavaliers and Tigers first met on October 22, 1968 in Charlottesville, Va. in a match that ended in a 2-2 tie. The last time Virginia played Clemson in Clemson, S.C., the Tigers defeated the Cavaliers 3-2 in overtime on October 13, 2002.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Virginia advanced past Clemson on penalty kicks in a penalty kick shootout following a 0-0 tie in the Quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament in Cary, N.C. on November 12, 2003. Prior to that tie, the Cavaliers defeated the Tigers by the score of 3-2 in a regular season match on October 11, 2003 in Charlottesville.
GELNOVATCH STAYING PUT AT UVA: Virginia men’s soccer head coach George Gelnovatch announced he is not considering leaving UVa to pursue the head coaching position with the United States Under-17 National Team Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. Following weeks of speculation that he might leave Virginia for the U-17s, Gelnovatch issued a statement to put rumors of his possible departure to rest. “Recently there have been rumors and speculation circulating about me taking over the U-17 Team. I hoped these rumors would go away, but they have not. In fact, they have become a distraction to what we are are trying to accomplish here at UVa,” said Gelnovatch. “I have had no official conversations with any of the U.S. Soccer administration with regards to the job. My part time involvement with the U.S. National Teams, as always, is the decision of (former UVa head coach) Bruce Arena. I will remain involved with Coach Arena if and when he needs me. However, I am fully committed to the University of Virginia, my team and everything we are striving to accomplish here at UVa and I have no plans to go anywhere.”
FREEMAN LEADING THE NATION IN ASSISTS, SCORING POINTS IN BUNCHES: Virginia’s Hunter Freeman, a third-year defender/midfielder, entered this season with just four points resulting from four assists after two years of action. Twelve games into the 2004 season, Freeman has scored 15 points to more than triple his two-year point total from the previous two seasons. Freeman’s 15 points are from 13 assists and one goal. His 15 assists currently leads the NCAA in Division I men’s soccer. In UVa’s last seven consecutive games (against Manhattan, North Carolina, UMBC, N.C. State, Liberty, Davidson and Saint Francis), Freeman has scored 13 points by posting one goal and dishing out 11 assists.
UVA’S Jeremy Barlow NAMED TO COLLEGE SOCCER NEWS’ NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK: University of Virginia men’s soccer player Jeremy Barlow was named to College Soccer News’ National Team of the Week for the week ending October 10th. Barlow, a first-year midfielder, scored three goals for the Cavaliers to lead UVa to a pair of victories over the Liberty Flames and the Davidson Wildcats last week. He scored his first collegiate goal, the game-winner, in Virginia’s 3-0 win over Liberty on October 6th before scoring two goals in UVa’s 4-1 victory over Davidson on October 9th.
VIRGINIA EXTENDS SEASON-HIGH WINNING STREAK TO FIVE GAMES: With its 3-1 victory over Saint Francis (NY) on October 12th, Virginia extended its season-high win streak to five games.
NINE DIFFERENT CAVALIERS HAVE SCORED A GAME-WINNING GOAL IN UVA’S FIRST TEN VICTORIES: Talk about getting production from various players. In Virginia’s first ten victories of the season, nine different Cavalier scored the game-winning goal. UVa has received a game-winning goal from: Adam Cristman, Hunter Freeman, Ian Holder, Matt Ayotte, Nico Colaluca, John Hartman, Will Hall, Jeremy Barlow and David Rosenbaum in its first ten victories.
THIS IS OUR HOUSE!: Virginia is a perfect 8-0-0 in games played at home at Klöckner Stadium this season. The Cavaliers have a minimum total of 12 home contests (regular season games) scheduled this year.
FIVE CAVALIERS HAVE SCORED THEIR FIRST COLLEGIATE GOAL THIS SEASON: The first-year group of Matt Ayotte, Nico Colaluca, Jeremy Barlow, Chris Tierney and David Rosenbaum have each scored their first collegiate goal this season for UVa. The first goals scored by Ayotte, Colaluca, Barlow and Rosenbaum were game-winners for Virginia.
UVA HAVING ITS WAY WITH OPPONENTS THIS SEASON: Heading into its game with Clemson on October 17th, Virginia is nearly outscoring its opponents by more than a three goals to one ratio. UVa has scored 29 goals to it opponents 10. Virginia has also outscored its opponents in total points (89-to-28), dished out more assists (31-to-8) and has taken more shots (190-to-97) than its opponents.
VIRGINIA WINS 150TH GAME AT KLOCKNER STADIUM: With its 3-0 shutout victory over Liberty on October 6th, Virginia won its 150th game at Klockner Stadium. It took UVa just 179 games to reach the 150-win plateau after the Cavaliers posted a mark of 150-22-7 during the stretch to 150 wins at home.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK: Virginia has played and defeated three teams on its 2004 schedule from the state of New York. UVa defeated Long Island 3-0 on September 5th, Manhattan 4-1 on September 21st and Saint Francis 3-1 on October 17th. All three matches were played in Charlottesville, Va. at Klöckner Stadium.
CAVALIERS HOLDS STRONG IN FIVE-GAME HOMESTAND: Virginia wrapped up a strong five-game homestand from September 29 – October 12 by going 5-0-0 during the stretch. The Cavaliers will play nine of their last 11 regular season games at home. The only two remaining regular season roads games for Virginia are on October 17th (at Clemson) and October 30th (at Virginia Tech).
HOME SWEET HOME: Virginia has enjoyed much success playing in the friendly confines of Klöckner Stadium. One of the finest college soccer facilities in the country, Klöckner Stadium has been a very tough place for opponents to record a win. Since its opening in 1992, UVa has posted an eye-opening record of 152-22-7 at Klöckner Stadium. The Cavaliers are currently 8-0-0 at home this season (2004). Virginia finished the 2003 season with a home record of 8-5-0 including a mark of 1-1-0 in the NCAA Tournament at home. In 2002, the Cavaliers finished the regular season a perfect 12-0-0 at home and finished the 2002 season 12-1-0 at home. Virginia is 21-7 in NCAA Tournament games held at Klöckner Stadium during the past 12 seasons, outscoring its opposition 63-26 in those games.
GELNOVATCH CLOSING IN ON 150 CAREER VICTORIES: UVa men’s soccer head soccer coach George Gelnovatch recorded his 100th career head coaching victory on August 30th, 2002 when Virginia defeated #25 Kentucky by the score of 3-2. Gelnovatch has coached eight season at UVa, and has recorded 135 wins as a head coach at Virginia with a career record of 135-47-14, including a mark of 31-14-6 in the ACC. By reaching the 100-win mark, it makes him only the second UVa men’s soccer coach to record the milestone. Former Virginia men’s soccer head coach Bruce Arena holds UVa’s all-time coaching victory mark with 295 (295-59-31, 74-21-11 ACC).