Virginia Entertains Virginia Tech Wednesday in ACC Tournament

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Nov. 4, 2014

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia takes on Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the first round of the 2014 ACC Men’s Soccer Championship at Klöckner Stadium. UVa is the 8-seed in the tournament, while Virginia Tech is the 9-seed. The advancing team moves on to play top-seeded Notre Dame in the quarterfinals at 1 p.m. Sunday in South Bend, Ind.

Records
Virginia: 9-5-2 (ACC: 3-3-2/11 points)
Virginia Tech: 7-7-2 (ACC: 2-5-1/7 points)

Tickets/Parking
Tickets are available through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office. Reserved tickets are $10, while general admission tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for youth/seniors (seniors over 60). Virginia students (with UVa ID) are admitted free of charge.

Free parking is available in the University Hall and John Paul Jones Arena lots.

In the Polls
Virginia is No. 15 in the latest NSCAA poll, No. 16 in the Top Drawer Soccer rankings and No. 25 in the Soccer America poll. Virginia Tech is not ranked.

Virginia in the ACC Soccer Championship
Virginia has an all-time record of 38-15-10 in the ACC Championship. UVa has won 10 tournament titles (1988, 1991-95, 1997, 2003-04, 2009) and 15 championships overall. The Cavaliers have reached the semifinals each of the last six years and in 25 of the tournament’s 27 years.

Virginia-Virginia Tech Series
Virginia and Virginia Tech are battling for the 45th time, with the Cavaliers owning a 37-4-3 advantage in the all-time series. This marks the first-ever postseason meeting between the teams.

UVa is unbeaten in its last nine matches against its in-state rivals, but four of the last five have gone to extra time. The Cavaliers posted a 1-0 win over the Hokies on Sept. 12 at Klöckner Stadium. UVa is 6-2-3 against Virginia Tech since the Hokies joined the ACC; nine of the 11 matches have been decided by one goal or a draw. This match does not count toward the 2014-15 Commonwealth Clash.

Virginia Up to No. 9 in Latest RPI
UVa stands at No. 9 in the NCAA’s latest RPI figures. Eleven of Virginia’s 16 foes are ranked among the top 40. Virginia Tech is No. 76 in the latest RPI.

Cavaliers’ Schedule Ranks Second-Toughest Nationally
Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch annually challenges his squad with a tough schedule – 2014 is a case in point. UVa boasts the nation’s second-toughest schedule this season (by win pct); UCLA’s schedule is ranked toughest.

Virginia’s opponents own a combined 141-77-31 record (.629 win pct.); 15 of the 16 UVa foes currently have records at or above .500. UVa played the nation’s fourth-toughest schedule in 2013.

Virginia Produces Late in Matches
Virginia has done the vast majority of its scoring late in matches. Fifteen of UVa’s 20 goals this season (75 percent) have come during the final 30 minutes of regulation and in extra time. UVa has scored three times in the first half this season.

Holding Serve at Home
Virginia has thrived on its home pitch at Klöckner Stadium and is 24-7-4 at home since 2012. UVa is 6-2-1 this year at home and owns a 53-18-6 home record since 2009 when the Cavaliers captured the program’s sixth national championship.

Sept. 12: Virginia 1, Virginia Tech 0
Scott Thomsen scored in the 74th minute to lift the Cavaliers to a 1-0 victory in the ACC opener for both teams. The Cavaliers held a large advantage in possession and had the better quality of scoring opportunities throughout the match. UVa out-shot Virginia Tech 18-4 and took 15 corner kicks to two for the Hokies. Virginia Tech doubled up UVa in fouls, committing 22 to 11 for the Cavaliers.

Noting Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech was winless in its final six regular-season matches, going 0-4-2 in that stretch. Ricardo John leads the team with five goals, while Som Essome has a team-best five assists. The Hokies were 3-5 away from Blacksburg this season.