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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The Virginia men’s soccer team closes out its regular-season on Friday with a contest against No. 1 Wake Forest. Kick-off from Klckner Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be streamed live over the internet by ACC Select. Live statistics are also available at VirginiaSports.com.
Friday is Fan Appreciation Night and prizes will be given out throughout the game. The senior class, playing in its final regular-season home game at Klckner Stadium, will be recognized prior to the game.
Virginia (9-6-1, 4-3-0 ACC) occupies third place in the conference standings heading into the regular-season finale, while Wake Forest (16-0-1, 6-0-1) has wrapped up the regular-season crown and the top seed in next week’s ACC Tournament.
In its last eight games at Klckner Stadium, UVa holds a 6-1-1 record. Last week, the Cavaliers defeated non-conference opponent American, 4-2, on Tuesday night before falling in a hard-fought match to fourth-ranked Maryland, 2-1.
Ross LaBauex scored Virginia’s lone goal against the Terrapins, and was assisted by Neil Barlow. For the year, Tony Tchani leads the team with nine goals, but suffered a season-ending knee injury on Oct. 21 vs. Longwood. Jimmy Simpson (six goals) ranks second on the team, followed by Chris Agorsor (four goals). Agorsor, another freshman standout for Virginia, also suffered a season-ending knee injury (Sept. 23).
Jonathan Villanueva, meanwhile, had an offensive breakout game against American, tallying two goals and two assists. Matt Mitchell (four goals), Brian Ownby (two goals) and LaBauex (two goals) have also anchored UVa’s offensive attack.
Defensively, Michael Giallombardo has started the last 11 games in goal and allowed nine goals for a 0.80 goals-against average. Freshman starters Howard Turk, Sean Barry and Hunter Jumper have performed well in the backfield during their rookie seasons to help UVa to record five shutouts on the year.
Virginia leads the all-time series with Wake Forest, 30-5-5, but dropped last year’s contest, 3-1, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Wake Forest, ranked No. 1 in both national polls, is led by Cody Arnoux (13 goals, four assists) and Marcus Tracy (11 goals, seven assists). In goal for the Demon Deacons, Akira Fitzgerald has started all 17 games and allowed 10 goals.
The seedings for next week’s ACC Tournament, being held in Cary, N.C., will be announced on Monday, Nov. 10.