No. 2 UVa Opens 2010 Season Friday vs. UAB At Klockner Stadium

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CHARLOTTESVILLE – The second-ranked and reigning NCAA Champion Virginia men’s soccer team opens its 2010 campaign on Friday at 8 p.m. against UAB at Klöckner Stadium. Live statistics will be available at VirginiaSports.com.

A national championship flag will be raised prior to kick-off to commemorate the program’s 2009 NCAA Championship. Virginia has won six men’s soccer NCAA Championships and each is represented by a flag at Klöckner Stadium. The flag marking the 2009 Championship will be raised at approximately 7:50 p.m., prior to the announcement of the starting line-ups and the playing of the national anthem. Former Cavalier, current undergraduate assistant coach and 2002 National Player of the Year Alecko Eskandarian will raise the flag as a representative of the program. In addition to last year’s crown, the Cavaliers won NCAA titles in 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994.

Virginia won all three of its preseason exhibitions: 1-0 vs. VCU (Aug. 20), 4-0 vs. VMI (Aug. 23) and 2-1 at George Mason (Aug. 28).

Sophomore midfielder Ari Dimas (Chesapeake, Va.) led the ‘Hoos offensively in those exhibitions with three goals and three assists, while Will Bates (Chester, Va.), Felipe Libreros (Oldsmar, Fla.) and Ahkeel Rodney (Elmont, N.Y.) each registered a goal and an assist during the preseason.

The Cavaliers are ranked No. 2 in the preseason rankings released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and No. 3 in the preseason Soccer America top 25.

This will be the first meeting in men’s soccer action between Virginia and UAB.

Up next, Virginia hosts the reigning BIG EAST Champion St. John’s on Sunday (Sept. 5) at 3 p.m. Prior to that match, Virginia Tech will face UAB at noon.

Fans can order 2010 season tickets online, in person or by telephone. To purchase tickets online, visit VirginiaSports.com. In-person sales can be made at the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Telephone purchases can be made by calling 1-800-542-UVA1 (8821) or locally at 434-924-UVA1 (8821).

The 2010 All-Soccer Reserved Season Pass (reserved seats for all home men’s and women’s games) is $90. The Men’s Soccer Reserved Season Pass is $50. General Admission All-Soccer Season Passes are also available for adults ($40), Youth/Senior ($30) and Faculty/Staff ($30).