Virginia Plays Host to No. 10 VCU Tuesday
Story Links
Sept. 30, 2013
| No. 10 VCU at Virginia | |
| Date/Time | Tue., Oct. 1, 2013 | 7 p.m. |
| Location | Charlottesville, Va. | Klöckner Stadium |
| Multimedia | GameTracker |
| Additional Information | Purchase Tickets | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram |
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Riding a four-match unbeaten streak, the Virginia men’s soccer team returns home Tuesday to face No. 10 VCU in a non-conference matchup at Klöckner Stadium. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.
Records
Virginia: 4-3-1 (1-2-1 ACC)
VCU: 3-3-1 (0-0-0 A-10)
Ticket Information
Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for youth, seniors and faculty/staff. Group ticket orders of 20 or more tickets are $4.
Broadcast Information
Live statistics (GameTracker) will be available on VirginiaSports.com, as well the new Virginia Sports app, which is available free of charge through iTunes.
Parking Information
Free parking is available in the University Hall, John Paul Jones Arena, McCue and Cage lots.
Virginia-VCU Series
Virginia leads the all-time series with VCU, 21-2-1; the last two matches each went to double overtime. The teams played last year in Richmond (Sept. 25), with the Cavaliers winning 1-0 on Cameron Chavira’s golden goal in double overtime.
The teams last played in Charlottesville on Sept. 29, 2009, with the then-No. 12 Cavaliers pulling out a 1-0 win on Chris Agorsor’s goal with a minute remaining in double OT.
The Grind Continues
Virginia is in the midst of its busiest and most demanding portion of the 2013 schedule. UVa is playing its sixth match in 19 days tonight. The Cavaliers will be playing on short rest Tuesday after winning Saturday at Syracuse. VCU will be the far more rested team, last playing a week ago at Wake Forest.
Last Time Out: Virginia 2, Syracuse 0
Freshmen Jordan Allen and Riggs Lennon scored first-half goals to lead Virginia to a 2-0 victory at No. 24 Syracuse Saturday night. Allen scored on a header in the sixth minute, while Lennon put away a loose ball in the box in the 41st minute.
The teams played a scoreless second half as the Cavaliers completed their second consecutive shutout. UVa goalkeeper Jeff Gal needed to make just one save to preserve the shutout. Virginia had a 12-2 advantage in shots on the evening, including a 7-1 edge in shots on goal.
Gelnovatch Records Win No. 250
With the win last Tuesday over Providence, Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch became the second UVa coach to reach the 250-win plateau in his head coaching career, joining his former mentor Bruce Arena. Gelnovatch owns a 251-103-34 record in his 18-year tenure.
Offense Keeps Rolling
Virginia has scored at least two goals in each of its last five matches, with 14 goals in that span. UVa is 3-1-1 in those matches. The Cavaliers tallied three goals in their first three matches combined.
UVa is tied for second in the ACC in goals this season with 17, trailing Maryland by one score. The Cavaliers also rank 21st nationally in goals this year.
Plenty of Offensive Threats
Virginia has scored 17 goals in eight games this season. Eleven different players have scored. UVa had 11 different goal scorers during the entire 2012 season. Eric Bird leads the Cavaliers with three goals on the year; Jordan Allen has a team-best three assists.
Defense Posts Back-To-Back Clean Sheets
Virginia has recorded back-to-back shutouts and three in the last four games as UVa has gone unbeaten in that stretch. UVa has allowed just one shot on goal and eight shots total in the last two games combined. The Cavaliers’ four wins have all come by shutout.
Another Day, Another Great Opponent
Eleven of UVa’s 17 opponents this season are currently ranked or receiving votes in the latest NSCAA poll. UVa’s first four opponents all are currently ranked in the NSCAA poll (as of Sept. 24): Louisville (18), St. John’s (9), Clemson (16), Wake Forest (24).
UVa still has matches on the docket with North Carolina (1), Notre Dame (4), Maryland (8) and VCU (17). Boston College, George Mason and Providence – also on the UVa schedule – are receiving votes in the NSCAA poll.
Noting VCU
VCU currently sits at 3-3-1, but was ranked as high as fifth in the country earlier in the season. The Rams were ranked as high as 10th nationally last week but suffered a 2-1 loss at Wake Forest last Tuesday. VCU already owns road wins over nationally ranked Maryland and Akron this year; all of its defeats have come to top-20 ranked foes.
VCU is led offensively by Kharlton Belmar and Devon Fisher. Each has two goals on the season. Senior goalkeeper Andrew Wells has logged every minute in goal this season. He has 28 saves and two shutouts on the year.
Up Next
Virginia remains home Friday against new conference rival Pittsburgh. The sides will play at 7 p.m.