The No. 14 Virginia men's soccer team's senior class improved its overall record to 57-18-7 last night with a 4-0 win against Mercer.
The shut-out victory, on the heels of last Friday's unsettling 2-1 overtime loss to Duke, is exactly how the Cavaliers had hoped to finish up their five-game homestand before closing out the regular season on the road.
"Any time you get a win you are happy, but the energy level and the execution and the togetherness tonight reminded me of the beginning of this season," Virginia coach George Gelnovatch said. "We have had a few bumps these last two weeks of conference play but it really feels like the start of a new season -- the energy tonight, that is a good sign."
Indeed the Cavaliers, dressed all in white, looked light on their feet and sharp on the ball as they pelted the Bears' goal and out-shot Mercer 18-2.
Although it was senior night, it was sophomore Ross LaBauex who gave an MVP performance. Scoring twice in the first half, he not only got Virginia out to the early lead but also gave the team a two-goal cushion. Indeed, having lost their last three ACC matches 2-1, despite taking an early 1-0 lead in two of them, notching that second goal has lately proved nearly impossible for the Cavaliers.
"Its good to get it because it is just confidence for the team -- score one than score another," LaBauex said.
Sophomore Matt Mitchell also worked tirelessly on offense, controlling the right side, creating opportunities and waiting for a chance to score his second career goal. His efforts were rewarded in the 68th minute as midfielders sophomore Jonathan Villanueva and senior Chris Tierney worked together to feed Mitchell the ball.
"I am feeling confident now; I have been patient these last eight or nine games," Mitchell said. "But now I am in a rhythm and I feel better since getting that first goal against Duke so hopefully I start scoring more and more."
With 24 of the 28 Cavaliers on the roster seeing action last night, Gelnovatch showcased his departing seniors and managed his starters' minutes.
"It was nice to get [Kyle] Rudzinski the start in goal, everyone was happy for him," Gelnovatch said. "We didn't want to look past tonight but it was nice to get some new guys in there while at the same time getting our starters some minutes and keeping them sharp."
With less than two minutes to go and a 3-0 lead, Cavalier fans were relieved to know that unlike Friday, Virginia would not lose in the final seconds of regulation. Nevertheless, junior Nino DiMaggio refused to ease up on senior Bears' goalkeepr Roberto Cronenbold. With just 20 seconds remaining, DiMaggio scored his first goal of the season and proved that the Cavaliers, like the Blue Devils, are capable of beating the clock.
"That [Duke] loss really took it out of us -- we all took the weekend to look at ourselves in the mirror and we had a good meeting on Monday," Gelnovatch said. "I really feel good about this team and tonight it showed"
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