With a 2004 recruiting class that has catapulted the Cavaliers to the No. 2 national ranking and a stellar 14-3 record -- last weekend's upset at the hands at Virginia Tech aside -- it can be hard for any individual freshman to stand out. But a few have, and one of them is midfielder Jeremy Barlow.
Despite the fact that every one of the Cavaliers' starters from 2003 returned this season, Barlow has earned his way into the lineup and has become a mainstay, starting in 13 of the 16 games in which he appeared. And for Virginia, earning one's way into the lineup has to occur every single day. By this point in the season most teams are used to familiar faces, both in their starting lineups and off the bench. But the Cavaliers keep fans on their toes with a constantly rotating sub system and extremely deep bench. What this means, especially for new members like Barlow, is that you have to prove yourself in every game and every practice.
Barlow has done this by scoring four goals this season, the third most of any Cavalier. Half of those were game-winning tallies, one over Liberty and one over Davidson (he scored two goals against the Wildcats).
Barlow's scoring ability runs deep. As a senior for Langley High School in Northern Virginia, he put 16 in the back of the net to cap off an extremely successful high school career. Like every high school star, Barlow has had to make adjustments to succeed at the collegiate level, and he has yet to disappoint.
"There is just a lot more pressure in college soccer to perform," Barlow said. "In high school soccer, the level is not as high. Coaches tend to be more lenient. Especially playing with older guys, the bar is much higher."
Barlow and his recruiting classmates are thriving alongside their older teammates, and Barlow is enjoying the challenges that come with that higher bar.
"It's just a better atmosphere," Barlow said. "When you are around better players all the time, you become better yourself. You are not relying on one person. You can feel free to give it to anyone unlike in high school when there is usually one or two players who you give it to and try and get them to score."
Other than just putting the Cavaliers on the board, Barlow has played an important role in controlling the midfield and transitioning his team up field. Quick on his feet and possessing an intuition on field position unusual in such a young player, Barlow and fellow freshman Nico Colaluca have made a difference in the Virginia midfield. It may be one of the most important differences that has led last year's 11-10-2 Cavaliers to become this year's success story.
"Jeremy has been very good for us all year," Virginia coach George Gelnovatch said. "He's gotten better over the course of the season, and over the last third of the season, he's been scoring goals. Potential wise, I think he's starting on a very good team his freshman year. I think the potential for him to be a very good player in the country and the conference is very good."
As the Cavaliers head into their last game of the regular season with archrival Maryland and then head toward the ACC and NCAA tournaments, new additions to the Virginia roster will face game-time pressure unlike any they have ever seen. But based on their performance so far this season, Virginia fans, coaches and teammates have had little reason to doubt them.
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