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Cavaliers, Blue Devils Set to Duke It Out in ACC Opener Friday
Story Links
| Virginia vs. Duke, presented by UVA Health System | |
| Date/Time | Fri., Sept. 7, 2012 | 7:30 p.m. |
| Location | Charlottesville, Va. | Klockner Stadium |
| Multimedia | GameTracker | Cavaliers Live (Video) |
| Additional Information | 2012 Ticket Information | Twitter | Facebook |
Sept. 5, 2012
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia men’s soccer team begins the ACC portion of its schedule at 7:30 p.m. Friday when it takes on Duke at Klöckner Stadium.
The match will be part of a soccer tripleheader with the UVa women’s soccer team, which is playing host to the Virginia Nike Soccer Classic. Richmond plays James Madison at 2 p.m., and Virginia battles George Mason at 5 p.m.
Live Coverage
Live statistics will be available at VirginiaSports.com, as will a live video webcast through Cavaliers Live (subscription required).
Ticket Information
Single-game and season tickets for Virginia men’s soccer currently are on sale through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office.
To purchase tickets online, visit VirginiaSports.com/Tickets. In-person purchases 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).
Promotions
Friday is the second of four Trading Card Days this season.
Weekend Recap: Wahoos Split With West Coast Foes
Virginia went 1-1 last weekend against then-No. 22 California and then-No. 11 UCLA; the Cavaliers downed Cal, 2-1, and lost in overtime, 1-0, to the Bruins.
UVa scored the game-winning goal in the 84th minute against Cal, as freshman Zach Carroll (Grand Blanc, Mich.) headed home a corner kick from fellow rookie Scott Thomsen (Brick, N.J.).
The Cavaliers out-shot UCLA in the first half Sunday, but the Bruins held an 11-3 shot advantage from then on, with Joe Sofia scoring the match’s lone goal with 28 seconds remaining in the extra period.
Virginia-Duke Series
Virginia holds a 38-36-8 edge in the all-time series with Duke. UVa scored a 1-0 win last season in Durham, N.C., as the Cavaliers took a second-minute goal from Brian Span and made it stand.
Duke has won its last two trips to Klöckner Stadium; the Cavaliers’ last win on their home pitch over the Blue Devils came in 2005 (1-0).
Youth is Served
Virginia’s lineup has taken on a decidedly younger look during the first three matches. The Cavaliers have started five freshmen in each game and have had at least nine underclassmen in each lineup. Sunday against UCLA, the Cavaliers started 10 freshmen and sophomores.
Underclassmen have played 83 percent of the possible minutes through three matches (2,595 of 3,135). Carroll (2) and sophomore Ryan Zinkhan (So., Fredericksburg, Va.) have accounted for the Cavaliers’ three goals this year, while Thomsen has one of UVa’s two assists.
Bates Makes Return
Will Bates (Sr., Chester, Va.) made his regular-season return to the UVa lineup last Friday against Cal. His impact quickly was felt, as he assisted on Zinkhan’s second-half goal which gave UVa a 1-0 lead.
Bates missed the final six matches of the 2011 season after tearing his ACL on Oct. 21 at Virginia Tech. He is nearing the Virginia career top 10 in goals and points. Bates currently has 34 career goals (three shy of the top 10) and 78 points (17 from top 10).
Noting Duke
Duke holds a 1-2 record this season, with losses to then-No. 18 Notre Dame and Santa Clara as well as a victory over Delaware. Sebastien Ibeagha and freshman Luis Rendon lead the team with three points each (1G, 1A).
Ibeagha and goalkeeper James Belshaw were named to Soccer America’s preseason All-America team. The Blue Devils return five starters from the 2011 squad, including All-ACC performers Belshaw, Ibeagha and Nick Palodichuk.
Tough Early Schedule
Virginia’s young squad has been challenged with three matches against strong, experienced foes. UVa is 1-2 thus far, with the two losses coming in OT.
The Cavaliers lost 2-1 in overtime in the season opener to Georgetown, which is now 4-0 this year. UVa downed then-No. 22 California, 2-1, last Friday and then took No. 11 UCLA to extra time last Sunday before falling, 1-0. The Bruins played in the NCAA College Cup last season.
UVa still has top 25 foes Boston College, Maryland, NC State, North Carolina, Wake Forest and Xavier remaining.
Up Next
Virginia continues its six-match homestand at 7 p.m. Tuesday when it plays host to Mount St. Mary’s.