The No. 4 Virginia men's soccer team improved its win streak to eight games and shutout streak to six games Saturday night when it knocked off VCU, 1-0, at Sports Backers Stadium in Richmond.
The win over VCU propelled Virginia (9-0-1) to a 18-0-1 all-time record over the Rams (4-4-1).
Virginia has won every game since Sept. 2, when it tied UCLA, 2-2. The Cavaliers have not been scored on since their 3-2 win over Creighton on Sept. 9. The Cavaliers' line of six consecutive shutouts is Virginia's longest since 1988, when it defeated eight straight opponents without allowing a goal.
However, Virginia coach George Gelnovatch emphasized that the Cavaliers aren't concentrating on the record-setting streak of shutouts.
"We're not really focusing on the streak too much," he said. "Rather, we're focusing on getting better and winning games."
Gelnovatch went on to say that the Cavaliers' ability to keep their opponents from scoring demonstrates not only the strength and stability of Virginia's defense, but also the consistent structure of the team as a whole.
"The foundation of the team is organization and the team's understanding of how to be in good spots," Gelnovatch said. "From that stems good soccer. The result is winning games and keeping teams from scoring. Winning is one thing, but keeping teams from scoring and from getting good chances [to score] is telling me that we're doing something right in terms of how we play together."
Forward Ryan Gibbs scored the Cavaliers' lone goal on Saturday with 2 minutes, 15 seconds remaining in the first half. Sophomore defender Matt Oliver played the ball down the field to Gibbs, who was able to break through a pack of Rams' defenders by heading the ball to himself. He then chipped a shot over VCU goalkeeper Steve Ankiel, who stood and watched helplessly as the ball landed in the back of the net.
"Gibbs is an interesting guy," Gelnovatch said. "He's so athletic. In [most of] the first half he wasn't getting a whole lot done. But all of a sudden he can pull off a play through his athleticism. It's uncanny."
Gibbs's goal - his fifth of the season - ties him with fellow forward Alecko Eskandarian for the team lead in goals scored. Oliver's assist was the first in his career at Virginia.
Following Gibbs's goal, the Cavaliers held on to their 1-0 lead for the remainder of the match and managed 16 total shots on goal. The Cavalier defensive unit of Oliver, Marshall Leonard, Jonathan Cole and Curtis Bush held the Rams to just six shots for the entire game.
The one-goal edge may have seemed like a narrow win for Virginia, but Gibbs said that the Cavaliers are satisfied when they can pull out a victory by just a goal.
Winning games by a one-goal margin "is very important," Gibbs said. "In the playoffs we'll play teams just like this. We can't win every game as a blowout. I think it shows the character of the team to be able to hold off 1-0 wins"
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