The Virginia men’s soccer team hopes to turn things around tomorrow night when it faces Duke in Durham, N.C.
The Cavaliers (8-4-1, 4-1 ACC) have hit an unexpected road block after a six-game winning streak with a 0-1-1 record during the past two games. A 1-0 loss at Boston College and an unforeseen 2-2 tie against Longwood have clouded some of the team’s achievements so far this season.
Considering Virginia’s performance this season, the Cavaliers were expected to execute a comfortable win against Longwood Tuesday, but instead appeared unprepared and unmotivated.
“We’re going to have to be a lot better,” coach George Gelnovatch said. “We’re not going to come even close to winning another ACC game if we play like we did [Tuesday].”
The 2-2 double-overtime draw produced at Klöckner Stadium Tuesday didn’t just damage the team’s record. The sloppy game resulted in injuries, including one to star freshman midfielder Tony Tchani, who leads the team in points and goals this season. With an alleged injury to his right knee, fans may question whether Tchani will see playing time Saturday, and if he does, whether his performance will meet the standards Virginia needs to overcome the Blue Devils.
It is important that Virginia’s offensive be at the top of its game, considering Virginia’s recent struggle to capitalize on scoring opportunities. This tendency to miss shots on goal has been a recurring issue all year and has hurt the Cavaliers in their past two games.
Even if Virginia takes advantage of its shooting opportunities, there are other reasons why Duke will make the matchup a tough one. The Blue Devils stand 7-5-2 (2-2-2 ACC), a record that Virginia outshines. But with senior forward Mike Grella on the field, the Cavalier defense needs to be on its toes.
Grella was picked as the “top player to watch” this season by numerous publications. With 10 goals and four assists under his belt, Grella soars above his teammates statistically. Freshman Kyle Bethel follows Grella with four goals and two assists made at forward and midfield this season.
Had Virginia not performed poorly Tuesday night, however, there would be fewer questions about tomorrow’s game considering Virginia’s second-place spot in the ACC standings, while Duke sits at a less impressive fifth place.
During their winning streak, the Cavaliers beat North Carolina 1-0 at Chapel Hill to bolster their success in conference play. Duke, however, failed to succeed offensively in its recent match against the Tar Heels Oct. 10 in Durham, losing 2-0. The teams’ scores against North Carolina accurately reflect their ACC standings, but with Virginia’s recent losses and Duke’s persistent determination, the Cavaliers are not guaranteed an easy contest.
Virginia has won four of its last five conference games, while Duke has only won one of its last five. The Cavaliers will try to move past recent losses to continue their victorious trend by playing well and executing opportunities on goal.
“We’re going to go in hard,” sophomore midfielder Jimmy Simpson said. “They’ve been playing well and you’ve got to give credit to them. But we’re going to be really motivated and we’ll go in there and play hard.”
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