The crowd was silenced. The Cavaliers in utter shock. The entirety of Klöckner Stadium was simply demoralized. These were the reactions as Virginia’s storybook season stunningly came to a close Sunday at the hands of UNC Greensboro in a 2-2 tie that saw the Spartans (12-4-6, 3-2 SoCon) advance in penalties.
The Cavaliers (12-2-4, 5-0-3 ACC) went out swinging, clawing back from a late 80th minute 2-1 deficit — leaving it all on the field despite the unfortunate result. Unlike the 1-1 draw from the first matchup between the two on Oct. 14, a winner had to be decided.
“We actually played well, created chances,” Coach George Gelnovatch said. "This is not a game that we didn't not show up for."
Chances surely came Virginia’s way early, as it came out the gates ready to wash away the 1-0 ACC Championship loss a week ago to SMU. One minute into the match, freshman forward Nicholas Simmonds knocked on the door early with a tap-in that nearly resulted in an early goal.
The initial attack was present for the Cavaliers, but so it was for the Spartans. They operated with a ferocious intensity, coming off a 4-3 first-round penalty shootout win against Elon. Their supporters traveled well, bringing an army of their own fans trying to negate the commanding home field advantage Klöckner has brought all season
In the fifth minute, UNC Greensboro struck first. The Spartans converted from a tight angle on a ball over top as graduate goalkeeper Casper Mols hands came rushing out and got beat from a tight angle.
Coming off a bye and conceding an early goal is a familiar act Virginia has been faced with. The same instance occurred in the second round of the ACC Tournament but with a more pleasant result against North Carolina in an eventual 2-1 comeback.
Virginia responded swiftly, as it only took 11 minutes for junior forward AJ Smith to answer with a goal of his own. After multiple tries, the team finally saw one go through the net with him scoring off the goalkeeper’s deflection.
Weathering the Cavalier storm, UNC Greensboro also continued its hot start to the half, capping it with a crowd-silencing goal to go on top in the 40th minute.
Trailing at the half for the first time at home all season, the Cavaliers were searching for answers.
Answers followed in the second half as they flourished by dominating possession and creating multiple opportunities. Nine of 18 total corner kicks in the half were a testament of this, but the team failed to capitalize.
“I thought that most of the second half, we had them in their half of the field and had full control of the game,” Gelnovatch said.
As control started to slip with no goals to show for it, Virginia was in critical condition with a lifeline of substitutions coming on to preserve what was left of the season.
In the 75th minute, Gelnovatch brought on freshman forward Sami Oulouheu, sophomore midfielder Luke Burns and sophomore defender Alex Parvu — all proven playmakers with the ability to produce the much-needed equalizer.
“Those guys are attacking players. Luke scores goals and Sami scores goals,” Gelnovatch said. “We started bringing on attacking players, more attacking players onto the field. I think they made a difference."
The difference was clear as day as Burns' attack into the box in the 80th minute resulted in a penalty kick.
Simmonds was chosen to take the penalty and was able to knock in the vital kick to bring the score to 2-2. Elation filled Klöckner as fans injected life into the night, yelling with all of their might in an attempt to will their Cavaliers to victory.
The rest of regulation and the two overtimes that followed were all of the same sort. A deadlock remained after stellar play from both keepers. After the prolonged stagnation, both teams proceeded to a gut-wrenching penalty shootout.
On the Virginia side, two misses made the difference between victory and defeat. Simmonds smashed the crossbar with his opening kick, and in the fifth round, with the season on the line, junior midfielder Marcos Dos Santos stepped up. A goal would tie up the count at 4-4 apiece and continue the shootour. A miscalculated shot would end it.
Dos Santos skied it. Season over.
The NCAA Tournament loss didn’t just mark a premature ending to the 2025 campaign. It was the team's first back-to-back losses of the season. It was its first home loss of the season. And it brought a halt to a possible redemption tour back to Cary, N.C., for a chance to play in the College Cup.
“[This team is defined by] just for how strong and connected and the family-like bond of the team,” Simmonds said. “Something I'll never forget. It's a once in a lifetime type of team to be a part of."
Read More
Women’s basketball breezes past Longwood and Northwestern State
By Sofie Keppler | 5 minutes agoThe Cavaliers picked up a pair of wins Thursday and Monday.
Anna Moesch spearheads Virginia women to a knockout in Knoxville
By Aimee Crosbie | 12 hours agoIn a weekend designed to test depth and nerves, the Virginia women mostly made the CSCAA Dual Meet Challenge look like business as usual.
![“[That whole class] is everything they have been hyped up to be,” DeSorbo said. “Heilman and Williamson in particular are the real deal and other guys are elevating because of them.](https://snworksceo.imgix.net/cav/4f32b0b3-555e-43cd-9d36-27de7adbaef0.sized-1000x1000.png?w=1000&ar=4%3A3&fit=crop&crop=faces&facepad=3&auto=format)
No. 12 Virginia men finish fourth at CSCAA Dual Meet Challenge
By David Sewall | 12 hours agoVirginia now heads into a break from collegiate competition until the new year.
