Virginia Plays Host to Virginia Tech at 6:30 p.m. Friday

Story Links

Oct. 18, 2012

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia men’s soccer team plays its final regular-season home game of the 2012 season at 6:30 p.m. Friday when it entertains Virginia Tech in ACC play at Klöckner Stadium. Senior Night ceremonies will be conducted prior to the match beginning at 6:20 p.m.

Live Coverage
The ACC’s Regional Sports Networks will have live television coverage, including Comcast SportsNet in the Virginia area. The other networks picking up the live coverage are:

· FS South
· Sun Sports
· NESN
· FS Arizona Plus

The RSN feed also will be available online via ESPN3. Live statistics can be found at VirginiaSports.com.

Records
Virginia: 7-6-1 (1-4-0 ACC)
Virginia Tech: 5-6-3 (0-4-1 ACC)

Promotions
The first 3,500 fans in attendance with receive a free Virginia Soccer scarf. It also is Cavman’s Crew Day, and the fourth set of trading cards will be handed out.

Series History
Virginia owns a 35-4-2 all-time record against Virginia Tech and has won 18 of the last 21 meetings. UVa is unbeaten in its last six contests against Tech. The Hokies’ last win was in 2005 (2-1 in OT in Charlottesville). UVa is 5-2-1 in ACC play versus the Hokies.

Virginia and Virginia Tech played to a scoreless draw last year in Blacksburg.

Cavaliers Ranked 13th in First NCAA RPI for 2012
Virginia is ranked No. 13 nationally in the NCAA’s first Ratings Percentage Index for the 2012 season. The RPI weighs heavily in the NCAA tournament selection process.

The Cavaliers have played five of the top 15 teams in the RPI – Maryland (1), Georgetown (4), UCLA (7), North Carolina (14) and Xavier (15).

Last Time Out: Cavaliers Down Wright State, 3-2
Virginia scored three goals in the first half to top Wright State, 3-2, Tuesday evening in the Cavaliers’ final non-conference match. Freshman Marcus Salandy-Defour (Kensington, Md.) scored a goal and added an assist, while Will Bates (Sr., Chester, Va.) and Eric Bird (So., Virginia Beach, Va.) each added goals.

In his first career start at Virginia, GK Matt Miscione (R-Jr., Ashburn, Va.) made three saves.

Senior Night on Friday
Virginia will conduct Senior Night ceremonies Friday night prior to the match. Six UVa fourth-years will be honored: Bates, Shane Cooke (R-Jr., Warrenton, Va.), Marcus Douglas (R-Jr., Washington, D.C.), Miscione, Sean Murnane (R-Jr., Centreville, Va.) and Will Whorton (R-Jr., Atlanta, Ga.).

Virginia Quick Notes
• Virginia’s opponents have combined for a 112-49-23 record (.671) this year.
• Ten of Virginia’s 14 matches have been decided by one goal or a tie.
• UVa is 6-3-1 at Klöckner Stadium this season.
• Each of the last eight matches between UVa and VT has been determined by two goals or fewer (four by one goal, two by draws).
• Will Bates leads the ACC in scoring with nine goals. He owns 43 career goals, which is seventh most in Virginia history.
• UVa is 25-2-1 since 2009 when Will Bates scores a goal (only losses were last year at Wake Forest and this year against the Demon Deacons).
• Eric Bird and Marcus Salandy-Defour each scored their first goals of the year on Tuesday.

Noting Virginia Tech
The Hokies played Howard to a 1-1 draw Tuesday in Blacksburg. David Clemens scored the Hokies’ goal Tuesday and has a team-leading six scores this year – nearly half of the team’s 14 goals this year.

Kyle Renfro, who picked up a shutout against UVa last year, has started all 14 matches in goal for the Hokies and boasts a 1.31 goals against average.

Up Next
Virginia heads to Boston College next Friday (Oct. 26) for a 7 p.m. ACC match. The Cavaliers wrap up the regular season Nov. 1 at NC State.