No. 22 Virginia Entertains Red-Hot Radford Tuesday Night

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Oct. 20, 2014

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The 22nd-ranked Virginia men’s soccer team plays host to Radford at 7 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 21) at Klöckner Stadium. The match pits a pair of top-40 RPI teams, as UVa is No. 12 in the NCAA’s new RPI figures, while Radford, unbeaten in its last 11 matches, stands at No. 40.

Broadcast Information
A video broadcast will be available online on VirginiaSports.com through a Cavaliers Live subscription. A link to live stats (GameTracker) is available on VirginiaSports.com. The video broadcast and live stats also can be accessed through the Virginia Sports app, which is available through iTunes.

Records
Virginia: 8-4-1 (3-2-1 ACC)
Radford: 9-2-2 (6-0-0 Big South)

In the Polls
Virginia is No. 22 in the NSCAA poll, No. 21 in the Soccer America rankings and No. 13 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll. Radford is not ranked this week.

Virginia-Radford Series
Virginia is undefeated in 10 previous meetings with Radford. The Cavaliers recorded their 10th straight win over the Highlanders on Sept. 20, 2011, at Klöckner Stadium as Will Bates scored four goals in the first 20 minutes, and UVa held on for a 4-3 win.

Last Non-Conference Match of 2014
This marks UVa’s final non-conference match of the 2014 regular season. The Cavaliers are 5-2-0 in non-league play, including a 3-1-0 mark at Klöckner Stadium. UVa is 3-0 this year against in-state, non-conference foes.

Cavaliers in Close Matches
Virginia has played its share of close games this year. Twelve of UVa’s 13 matches have been determined by one goal or fewer. Seven of the 13 have been tied at the half. UVa’s 3-0 win at Pitt was the Cavaliers’ lone match not determined by a goal or fewer.

Bird Stokes Cavaliers’ Offense
Eric Bird has been the Cavaliers’ main scoring threat of late, scoring each of UVa’s three goals over the past three matches. Named the ACC Player of the Week after scoring UVa’s goals in 1-0 wins over George Mason and Duke, Bird scored the Cavaliers’ goal in a 2-1 setback at Clemson on Friday. He now leads the team with four scores this season.

Holding Serve at Home
Virginia has thrived on its home pitch at Klöckner Stadium and is 23-6-4 at home since 2012. UVa is 5-1-1 this year at home and owns a 52-17-6 home record since 2009 when the Cavaliers captured the program’s sixth national championship.

Cavaliers Challenged by Strong Schedule
Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch annually challenges his squad with a tough schedule – 2014 is a case in point. Virginia’s foes own a combined 84-52-22 record (.601 win pct.); 10 of the 13 UVa foes currently have records at or above .500.

Defense Keys Cavaliers’ Success
Virginia’s defense has been critical to the Cavaliers’ 8-4-1 start. UVa has conceded just nine goals in 13 matches while recording six clean sheets. The Cavaliers have allowed more than one score in just two games this season. UVa shifted to a 3-5-2 formation this year (three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards), and the athletic back line of Sheldon Sullivan, Wesley Suggs and Kyler Sullivan has been outstanding.

Noting Radford
Radford is 9-2-2 this season and riding a school-record 11-game unbeaten streak, including seven straight wins. The Highlanders are aiming to tie a school record with an eighth straight win. Stephen Hudgens and Kieran Roberts both have five goals, while RU has given up just 10 goals on the season.

Up Next
Virginia plays its final home match of the regular season Friday against Wake Forest. Game time is 6:30 p.m., and UVa will hold Senior Day ceremonies prior to the start of the game.