Cavaliers Set for Season Opener Thursday
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The No. 15 Virginia men’s soccer team (0-0) is set to embark on its 80th season on Thursday (Aug. 23) when the Cavaliers take on Iona (0-0) at Klöckner Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. The match will feature as the first half of a Virginia soccer doubleheader as the women’s team faces off with Michigan at 8:15 p.m.
How to Follow
Thursday night’s season-opener against Iona will be streamed on ACCNX which is available through the ESPN app and at WatchESPN.com for customers who have the ACC Network as part of their TV subscription. Links to both the broadcast and live stats are available at VirginiaSports.com. Fans can also get updates by following the program’s official Twitter account (@UVAMenSoccer).
Parking Advisory
Due to construction in the area in the early part of the season that has eliminated spaces in the JPJ South lot, fans are encouraged to consider parking in the JPJ West lot and parking garage.
Tickets Available
Tickets are good for entry into both games of Thursday’s doubleheader and one-time re-entry is allowed with a ticket.
Tickets are available for Thursday night’s opener and fans are encouraged to purchase in advance online at UVATix.com. Advance tickets online are $12 for reserved seats (if available) and $8 for general admission. If purchased at the gate, reserved seats are $15 if available and general admission set at $10.
Season tickets are also on sale with reserved seats at $70 and general admission at $40 for the year.
For Starters
- Under head coach George Gelnovatch, Virginia is 20-7 in season openers all-time and has won eight of its last nine opening matches.
- The Cavaliers were picked to finish third in the Coastal Division in the ACC preseason poll and received one first-place vote
- Three players will wear the captain’s armband this season including Leo Afonso (striker), Will Citron (center back) and Holden Brown (goalkeeper)
- Leo Afonso has led the Cavaliers in total points in consecutive seasons tallying 18 in both 2021 and 2022—the Brazilian striker was a first team All-ACC selection in 2022 after leading a Virginia attack that equaled its highest scoring output since the 2013 season with 34 total goals scored by the team.
- The Cavaliers have brought in an exceptional class of recruits which ranks in the nation’s top-five according to TopDrawerSoccer.
- With the exception of the College Cup Final, shootout losses officially count as draws in college soccer. After a shootout loss to end the 2022 campaign, Virginia carries an eight game unbeaten streak into 2023
- Virginia opens the season with four consecutive matches at home as the Cavaliers will take on Iona (Aug. 24), Loyola Marymount (Aug. 27), George Mason (Aug. 31) and Maryland (Sept. 4)
Noting Iona
- Virginia matches up with Iona for the first time in program history on Thursday night
- The Gaels finished the 2022 campaign with a 7-5-5 record overall
- Iona appeared in the MAAC Championship final, falling to Quinnipiac by a score of 3-2
- Camil Azzam Ruiz returns as Iona’s leading scorer after totaling 15 points in 2022