The No. 5 Virginia men's soccer team can only hope that the third time will be the charm.
After two losses during the preseason Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne Soccer Showcase exhibition matches -- to the Spartans of Michigan State and the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers -- the Cavaliers will look for better results this weekend at home in the Virginia Soccer Classic.
Virginia will face the No. 20 Kentucky Wildcats tonight and the University of Rhode Island squad on Sunday.
"These are two really good teams," said senior forward Ryan Gibbs. "At this point, it's really just about playing good soccer."
Play good soccer is exactly what Virginia will need to do in order to go into the regular season on a winning streak.
While Kentucky is coming into its program's twelfth season ranked twentieth by the National Soccer Coaches of America Association -- a poll in which the Cavaliers were ranked fifth -- the Wildcats are not to be taken lightly.
Kentucky has developed a fiery squad that is exercising its full potential. During the IPFW, the Wildcats came away from a preseason match-up against Indiana with a respectable 1-1 tie, proving they are a force to be reckoned with.
Even if the Cavaliers dominate the Wildcats, they still will need to be on their A-game for Sunday's match with the University of Rhode Island.
While the Rams' Friday night face off with Maryland will be their first collegiate contest of the season, they are barely more than a week off a 10-day European tour in which they earned a 2-2-2 record.
Their European opponents gave the Rams an opportunity to work out some of the kinks in preparation for the regular season.
Friday night's opener against the Terrapins may prove to be an adequate warm-up before facing the Cavaliers on Sunday.
But while their foes might be ready for them, the Virginia squad has been refining its game as well. They have taken their first two losses in stride, using them as a learning experience for their young team.
While the Cavaliers retained seven starters and 14 lettermen from last year's team, they have brought young talent as well.
According to Coach George Gelnovatch, it wasn't just game strategy that they picked up in Indiana, but it was also an appreciation for what it will take to duplicate -- let alone surpass -- the success of last year's squad.
"We really learned that there is a really fine line between what it takes to be a good team and what it takes to be a championship team," Gelnovatch said. "We realized that we need to be a team all the time, and I think that we're better for it."
If the Cavaliers can keep up a consistent level of play, with senior goalkeeper David Comfort anchoring the back field, and depend on players like Gibbs and sophomore forward Kirk Dinnal to convert opportunities on offense, they should be in good shape to make a strong home showing.
The Cavaliers will open this weekend's Virginia Soccer Classic tonight when they take on the University of Kentucky at Kl
ckner Stadium at 5 p.m.
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